Prayad Marksaeng jumped into an early outright lead at Doral with Padraig Harrington in hot pursuit as the second round of the World Golf Championships - CA Championship got up and running.
Thailand’s Marksaeng had shared the overnight lead on seven under par with Retief Goosen, Phil Mickelson and Jeev Milka Singh following an opening day 65 on the par 72, 7,266 yard Blue Monster course.
Yet the World Number 55 stole a march on his rivals when he eagled the par five, 528 yard first hole to move to nine under.
Harrington had been in a tie for fifth place overnight after an opening 66 and he followed Marksaeng with an eagle at his first hole, the par five tenth, dialling in his second shot 281 yards out to 12 feet from the pin and holing out from there to move to eight under.
The Irishman is kick-starting a season that had begun with two missed cuts in his first four starts and a first round exit at the World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play two weeks ago and the reigning The Open Championship and US PGA Championship winner joined Marksaeng at nine under with a birdie at the par five 12th, his third hole of the day.
The Thai edged ahead once more with a birdie at the par four fifth hole that took him to ten under par after five holes.
World Number Three Mickelson had finished in style for his 65 on Thursday, chipping in for birdies at the both the 17th and 18th holes to complete a back nine of six birdies and no bogeys.
It led the American left hander, a three time major champion, to state he was playing as well as he ever had, and he started in suitably confident mood with a birdie at the tenth to move to eight under.
India’s Singh joined him there with an opening birdie at the first and also starting well was South Africa’s James Kingston, who birdied the second hole to move to seven under.
