Scotland's Martin Laird leads the Frys.com Open in California by a shot after carding a second straight five-under 67.
The 31-year-old Glaswegian has taken seven weeks off the Tour but has returned as though he has never been away.
A run of four straight birdies from eight through to 11 means he leads Bae Sang-moon and Zach Blair by a stroke on 10 under.
"You never know how you're going to play after seven weeks off like I had," Laird said afterwards.
"Just to come out and put back-to-back 67s up and play very solid - very solid 67s - I'm extremely happy."
American Scott Langley is next on the leaderboard on eight under, sharing the third spot with Sweden's David Lingmerth and compatriot Mark Hubbard. The 25-year-old Hubbard was one of two players to record a hole in one on Friday, going straight in on the par-three seventh.
His round of 65 was a low for the day, although the other player to make a one-shotter, Billy Hurley III, failed to make the cut.
USA Ryder Cup player Hunter Mahan is one of a number on six under par, with Matt Kuchar back on five under.
Lee Westwood was three under on Friday, allowing him to repair some of the damage of a disappointing first day but even still he remains eight shots off Laird's pace.
Defending champion Jimmy Walker made sure he survived into the weekend with a stellar six-under round repairing the damage of a three-over 75 on day one.
