A failure to take advantage of his length on the par fives has left world No.8 Jason Day with an uphill climb at the halfway point of the US PGA Tour Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
Day, and the rest of the Australian tilt, will need to make a significant move in Sunday's third round at the Plantation Course in Kapalua if they are to contend the winners-only event.
A four-under-par (69) round left Day and fellow Queenslander John Senden (71) as the front runners of the Australian assault at seven-under-par 139 through two rounds, tied 12th and four shots off the lead.
Defending champion Zach Johnson (67), overnight leader Russell Henley (70), Jimmy Walker (68), and South Korean Sang-Moon Bae (69) are hogtied together in the lead at 11-under-par (135).
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (66) plus Americans Charley Hoffman (66), Brendon Todd (67), Patrick Reed (69) and Robert Streb (69) all sit at 10 under on a heavily congested leaderboard.
Day is just one-under-par on the four long holes through two rounds, known as the best scoring opportunities and playing as the four easiest.
It leaves the 27-year-old ranked third-last in the 34-man field despite being second in driving distance.
"It's so frustrating," said Day.
"I have scoring clubs in my hands and I'm just not putting the ball in good positions.
"On top of that, I'm not finishing off the chips if I am in trouble and it is really annoying because otherwise I am playing really well.
"At a bare minimum I should be four under on those holes through two days, especially with my length, but I am just not capitalising on it."
While plenty of talent sits in front of him on the leaderboard, Day remained hopeful he could make inroads and not be trumped by the easy holes in round three.
"On the flip side I could have shot a really deep one out there today so I know there are plenty of opportunities," he said.
"If I can put it together the next two days I feel like I'm certainly still within striking distance."
Senden appeared likely to challenge the lead after three birdies in his opening 10 holes but three back-nine bogeys stalled his charge.
Geoff Ogilvy carded a four-under-par 69 to move to five under where he joined Matt Jones (72) in a tie for 18th.
Steven Bowditch shot even par to remain at four under, now tied 24th.
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