Veteran Phil Mickelson used his short game magic to claw his way within three strokes of halfway leader Andrew Loupe after the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.
Mickelson, a five-times major champion who needs only to win the US Open next month to complete the elusive career Grand Slam, saved par eight times, his lone bogey coming at his final hole, where he drove into a fairway bunker.
"I scrapped it around," said Mickelson, adding that poor driving, rather than suspect iron play, had put him in danger of dropping shots.
"My short game was sharp. I hit a lot of good iron shots, but I had to play for par a little too many times because I didn't put it in play off the tee," he said.
"I've been driving the ball really well heading into this week, so I'm a little disappointed with the driver."
John Senden is the best-placed Australian, four shots off the pace at four-under. Adam Scott is three shots further back on one-under.
Loupe had a chance to build a substantial advantage, only to bogey two of his final three holes for a 71.
"It's halftime," said the long-hitting Loupe, who is without a win in 53 starts on the PGA Tour.
He posted an eight-under 136 total to lead compatriot Roberto Castro (66) by one stroke.
Castro vaulted into second place with the help of a rare eagle at the tough par-four 18th, where he holed out with a five-iron from the rough from 220 yards.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, picked up four shots on the easier front nine, including a chip-in, 80-foot birdie at the par-five seventh, but his charge stalled with two closing bogeys on the difficult finishing holes.
"It felt a little better for me today, a lot of shots of much better quality than yesterday," said the Northern Irishman after a 69.
"It's a step in the right direction. Last year as well, I had a 14-under weekend. I'll need to do something similar this year."
American Zac Blair was disqualified in unusual circumstances for using a non-conforming club, in this case his putter.
Blair bent his putter when he banged it against his head in frustration after missing a putt at the fifth hole.
He putted out the hole before subsequently informing an official on the next hole of the situation and was disqualified.
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