Pádraig Harrington was two off the clubhouse lead after carding another 66 in his second round of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Bubba Watson set the pace on Friday after he overcame an unsteady start to card a three-under-par 67 and move to 10 under.
Harrington began on the 10th and quickly made progress with birdies at 12, 13, 15 and 16, though a bogey at the 17th saw him turn in 32. Birdies at the third and sixth on the way in, were tempered slightly by a dropped shot at the fourth, but the Irishman's progress was good enough for a share of second with American Patrick Reed, who also shot a 66.
Reed moved to within one shot of American compatriot Watson, but after five birdies in 17 holes, he then blotted his copybook by dropping a shot at the last
Webb Simpson was also on eight under through 16, but dropped back alongside Keegan Bradley (65) after closing with consecutive bogeys.
Watson, who finished runner-up here last year and was champion in 2010, started his round on the back nine also, but opened with a bogey at the par-four 10th before settling to his task at the TPC River Highlands thereafter.
The 2012 Masters Champion picked up birdies at the 13th, 16th, third and sixth holes to move to 10 under.
Hunter Mahan, who set the early pace yesterday with an eight-under-par 62, had dropped back to seven under through 17 holes, while overnight leader Charley Hoffman shot a three-over-par 73 to drop back to six under.
Fellow American Tag Ridings and Australian Nick O’Hern are on seven under overall after rounds of 65 and 66 respectively.
US Open champion Justin Rose carded a 68 to move to five under after opening with a 67.
