Phil Mickelson held on to the lead in California with a 68 on day two of the Desert Classic, while Seamus Power struggled to make a move up the leaderboard.
The American enjoyed a level-career best 60 at La Quinta Country Club on day one that saw him three shots ahead as play got under way at the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Friday.
He remained two shots ahead by the close of proceedings - Australian challenger Curtis Luck rising into second with a round of 66 at the Nicklaus.
A shot behind the Aussie was Canadian Adam Hadwin and American Steve Marino, both playing at La Quinta, who are tied for third.
Power was level par for the front nine, but birdies at 11 and 12 were undone by a double-bogey at the par-three 15th and another dropped shot at 16.
Power is at three-over par with well adrift of the projected cut which will see the top 70 players – the Waterford native is tied for 151th in the field – advance.
Form remained relatively strong for Mickelson for the second day of his first outing of 2019, the three-time Masters champion hitting 14 greens.
Mickelson set off down the back nine with birdies on the eleventh and twelfth before a bit of bad luck on the 18th saw him end up in the water and card a double-bogey.
The 2013 Open Winner put the mishap behind him and parred the next four before a home-straight bust saw him fire off four birdies on the last five holes.
England's Justin Rose was also on the Nicklaus on Friday and also carded a 68, lifting him up the leaderboard into an 18-strong pack tied for 28th.
Scotsman Russell Knox put in a much improved performance on his first-round 73 with a 66 at La Quinta to rocket 56 places up the leaderboard - albeit to tie for 72nd.
The Desert Classic is a pro-am tournament with 72 holes played over three courses; the Nicklaus, La Quinta and the Stadium Course at PGA West.
