After two near-flawless rounds of 65 at the testing TPC Potomac in Maryland, David Lingmerth leads the PGA tour event at 10-under par.
The Swede's nearest threat is Australian Geoff Ogilvy who also carded a five-under round on Friday to be eight under.
Ogilvy played in the first group off the 10th tee and he took advantage of calm morning conditions and flawless greens to birdie three of his first four holes.
The 2006 US Open champion added birdies from six feet on No.1 and inside two feet on holes two and four. He finished with an eight-footer for par.
"That 7:15 (tee time) is pretty early," Ogilvy said.
"You've got to get out of bed pretty early, but once you get out here it's always nice.
"It was the perfect morning to play golf.
"It's always nice to be under before you're over on a course this hard."
Forty-year-old Ogilvy, once ranked No. 3 in the world, now sits at 232 and had to take a one-time exemption for being in the top 50 in career earnings to maintain his PGA Tour playing privileges this season.
"I have to get the job done here," Ogilvy said.
"Back in the day when I was top 50 in the world, you have long-term exemptions, I would have considered going to play France this week."
Daniel Summerhays shot 68 and was alone in third, at six-under par, while Sung Kang, who shot 69 amid tougher conditions in the afternoon, and Indian Arjun Atwal (67) are tied fourth.
No one came close to challenging the leaders in the afternoon as the wind picked up, firming up the already-dry fairways and baking out the greens at TPC Potomac, which is hosting the event for the first time.
Australia's Marc Leishman fought back after being four over for the day after just six holes and birdied his final hole to sign for a 72 and finish his second round at two-under and tied for 10th.
Compatriot Curtis Luck is at one-under after a 71 with Cameron Percy (70) a shot back at even par. Matt Jones (74) is at two-over.
Greg Chalmers and Rod Pampling, both five over missed the cut by a shot, while Aaron Baddeley and Ryan Ruffels will also have the weekend off.
Tournament drawcard Rickie Fowler, the world No.9, fired a 72 to be tied 37th at two over.
Justin Thomas, the second-highest-ranked player in the field, couldn't overcome the quadruple-bogey nine he made on the 10th hole Thursday and missed his second straight cut.
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