Young American star Jordan Spieth produced a clinic of golf right under the nose of Tiger Woods to surge to the lead after the second round of the US PGA tour event at Torrey Pines where Australia's Marc Leishman sits well poised just three shots back.
Spieth, just 20 years old and celebrating the one-year anniversary of his professional debut, fired a nine-under 63 on Torrey Pines north while paired with world No.1 and seven-time event champion Woods, moving the young star to 10-under 134 overall.
Woods could only muster a 71 to be one-under for the tournament, a distant nine shots back.
Spieth holds a one shot lead over fellow American Stewart Cink (72) and is two clear of Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts (67) who are nine and eight-under respectively after playing the south course.
Leishman heads the Australian charge after a solid 71 on the south course left him at seven-under in a tie for fourth with American Billy Horschel (67 north) just three off the pace.
Players alternate between the south and the much easier north courses over the opening two days before playing the south exclusively over the weekend.
Leishman continued on from his hot north side round with three birdies on his opening nine holes on the south.
Playing the back nine first the Victorian opened with three pars before rattling off three birdies in his next four holes.
His tilt hit a snag after the turn when his approach shot into the fifth hole found a terrible bunker lie and he failed to get to the green with his third.
Another chip and two putts left him with a sour double bogey before he parred home.
"I'm really happy. It's probably one of the best ball-striking days I've had ever and just one loose shot cost me a double," Leishman said.
"I drove the ball really well and had a good day leaving me plenty to build on for the weekend."
The Warrnambool product finished in a tie for second in 2010 and a tie for ninth in 2011 on the California coastal layout and as such is quietly confident he can add to his lone US PGA tour victory from 2012.
"I've got some good memories here so hopefully I can make some more this weekend," he said.
"Hopefully the putts drop on the weekend as it would be nice to lift another trophy. It's been a year and a half so I'd like to do it again soon."
Jason Day battled in round two but still ground out a 73 on the south course to remain well and truly in the mix at five-under in a tie for 11th.
Matt Jones rebounded from a three-over first round with a seven-under 65 on the north to catapult back in the mix at four-under in a tie for 20th.
Stuart Appleby (-1), Aaron Baddeley (Even) and Steven Bowditch (even) scraped into the weekend while Geoff Ogilvy (+2), Robert Allenby (+3), Bronson La'Cassie (+4) and Scott Gardiner (+11) missed the cut.
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