Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy head into the weekend of the 105th PGA Championship tied for 10th place at Oak Hill Country Club.
Both men lie on even-par overall, five behind the leading trio of Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners and Viktor Hovland. But, while McIlroy might feel that's as much as he could have asked for as he again looked slightly shorn of confidence over the two days, Lowry will feel he should be a shot or two closer.
Starting his day three-over-par after an opening 73, the Offalyman was magic on Friday afternoon and reached two-under-par standing on the 17th tee after a fabulous run of six birdies in eight holes.
However, a pair of closing bogeys on the difficult par-four 17th and 18th saw Lowry undo some of his good work. But he remains right in contention for a second Major title, having so memorably won the 2019 Open Championship on home soil at Royal Portrush.
McIlroy, for his part, showed admirable grit to get it around in one-under-par for the day, adding a 69 to his opening 71 and matching Lowry's overall total.
Afterwards, the Holywood star said: "I wouldn't say it all came together but I held it together well. Like yesterday, it was erratic of the tee. I rode my luck a little bit and finished really strongly. It was nice to get it in under par. As badly as I feel like I've played, to be only five shots off the lead is a bonus.
"I need to be patient the way I'm hitting it off the tee," McIlroy said. "I stayed really patient and I think it was rewarded with a couple of breaks and birdies towards the end.
"I think with how terribly I've felt over the ball, the fact I am only five back... I'm not saying it could be up there with one of my best performances but when I holed that (birdie) putt on the last I thought I can't believe I'm only five back.
"If I can get the ball in play off the tee I'll have a shot and at this point I might just tee it high and bomb it everywhere. I may as well just swing it hard and go for it."
American Scheffler got off to a flier with birdies on the first two holes. He would eventually sign for 68. Canada's Conners flew through the field and at one point led by two clear strokes. He also got it around in 68 strokes. Norway's Hovland got into that lead late on, his second-round 67 was built on the back of peerless iron-play.
First-round leader Bryson DeChambeau and fellow American Justin Suh were two shots off the lead, with England's Callum Tarren - who only secured a place in the field on Friday after former champion Martin Kaymer withdrew - another stroke back after a superb 67.
Masters runner-up Brooks Koepka was alongside Tarren on two under thanks to a 66 which included four birdies in the last seven holes.
Of the other Irishmen in action, Pádraig Harrington sits on +3 (72, 71) and will also feel he left a couple out there. A double-bogey on the seventh hole, his 16th, undone a lot of excellent work. Seamus Power, playing in the earlier group, missed the five-over-par cut when he added a 74 to his opening 75 to leave him frustrated on nine-over-par.
