First-round leader Shane Lowry is part of a sextet sharing top spot at the halfway point of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida after carding a round of 71 to move to seven under par.
Lowry, who opened with a sizzling 66, recorded five birdies and four bogeys at Bay Hill - a course which has previously proven a bete noire for the Offaly man.
Brian Harman, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, Russell Henley, Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark also sit atop a congested leaderboard, with the latter's 66 the lowest round of the day.
World number one Scheffler was level par after a bogey on the 11th hole, but an eagle at the par-five 12th and a hat-trick of birdies starting from the 15th vaulted him into contention.
Will Zalatoris is one shot further back, with Stephan Jaeger and Emiliano Grillo on five under.
Back on top of the leaderboard 💪@ShaneLowryGolf birdies the par-4 18th and takes the solo lead @APInv. pic.twitter.com/3BWgYsyW0S
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 8, 2024
"It is hard to be patient and I've become very impatient over the last while," Lowry told NBC Sports of his winless run on the PGA Tour after his round.
"Maybe over the last year and a half, it hasn’t been great. But I’m not trying any less. I’m trying to be as patient as I can and just wait for those wins to come."
Rory McIlroy added an improved 70 to his opening effort of 73, with six birdies and four bogeys helping him reach one under and tied for 28th.
Séamus Power survived the cut, although a double-bogey seven on the par-five sixth hole saw him sign for a round of 74 as he dropped back to two over and a share of 46th place.
