Justin Rose shot a fine round of 67 to take a share of the clubhouse lead on level par midway through the second round at the US PGA Championship.
The Englishman, who opened with a 73 on Thursday, got back into contention by firing four birdies for the cost of just one bogey at Oakland Hills Country Club.
His best form was saved for the two par fives – he took four at the 529 yard second and the same at the 593 yard 12th hole – while he also gained strokes at the fourth and 15th holes.
The only blip came with a bogey five at the 18th, which proved the toughest hole of the first round, but he was able to take a temporary share of the clubhouse lead with South Korea’s Charlie Wi, who shot a second successive 70, and America’s Ben Curtis.
Henrik Stenson recovered from a slow start to finish a shot further back.
The Swede, coming into the second round on the back of a 71, began on the tenth and immediately dropped a stroke before taking a second bogey at 18th.
However, his fortunes turned with a birdie on the par five second hole. He then collected further strokes at the fifth and sixth to reach level par before a bogey at the eighth took the gloss off.
Argentina’s Angel Cabrera is on two over par after a 72, while Padraig Harrington faded once again after a quick start on the back nine.
The Open Champion, who shot three birdies in his first three holes before taking 71 on Thursday, collected a stroke at the tenth.
However, bogeys at the 11th and 17th brought him back to two over before a birdie on the first temporarily halted the slide.
A hat-trick of bogeys followed from the third to take his score to four over par, though a birdie at the sixth gave him hopes of a strong finish. It was not to be, however, as bogeys on the eighth and ninth ended a round of 74, five over overall.
Elsewhere, Ernie Els is six over par after a 75.
On the course, Jeev Milkha Singh leads on three under par - he has collected one stroke in his first three holes - while overnight co-leader Robert Karlsson has dropped four shots in four holes to go two over par overall.
