Saturday 14 February 2015 18:32, UK
Defending champion Brandt Snedeker produced a flawless long game to to share the second round lead with Australia's Matt Jones at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
The American hit every green in regulation and rolled in five birdies for a five-under-par 67 at Spyglass Hill, the most difficult of the three courses used for the event in California.
Jones also tamed Spyglass with a 66 in brilliant sunshine to join 2013 champion Snedeker at 12-under, one stroke ahead of American Justin Hicks, who carded three-under at Monterey Peninsula.
Snedeker, a six-times PGA Tour winner, has slipped outside the top 50 in the world rankings and is not exempt for the Masters in April, something he wants to rectify with a win on Sunday.
"It's no fun not being eligible for the Masters, so it's a huge motivating factor," he said.
"I definitely want to make sure I qualify for the Masters (and World Golf Championships events) and to do that I need to play good."
Snedeker is looking forward to moving to the host Pebble Beach course for the final two rounds, after getting Spyglass out of the way.
"Around Spyglass, you're just trying to get out of there without too much damage," he said. "It's a tough course and I played really well. My wedges have been great the first two days and I've been rolling the ball really well."
"Scores are a lot lower than when I won. I've got to shoot something under par, pretty low, because conditions are perfect."
Star performer
Australian Jason Day, coming off a play-off victory last Sunday, shrugged off a stomach bug to vault within three shots of the lead with a nine-under 62 at Monterey Peninsula.
Charlie Beljan was another big mover, firing a 63 at the same course to move tied-fourth along with nine others, while overnight joint-leader JB Holmes is also six shots behind after a triple-bogey at the 17th saw him end one-over.
John Daly is also six shots back after being unable to follow up his first day heroics, ending with a one-over 72.
Germany's Alex Cejka was the leading European at the midway point on eight under, with Ireland's Shane Lowry seven under and England's Ian Poulter a further shots back.
Watch day three of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am live from 8pm on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
