Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 British Open champion, fired an eagle and four birdies to vault into an early lead after nine holes in second round of the US PGA today.
The sizzling start left the 42-year-old American at seven under par and three shots clear of first-round leaders Jim Furyk and Fred Funk, who are yet to tee off on day two.
Tiger Woods, who carded a one-under 71 on his opening round, will now have work to do if he is to remain within striking distance of a third PGA crown.
The world number one is also bidding to become the first player to win three of the year's four major titles in a single season for a second time.
Calcavecchia began the day trailing the co-leaders by two shots but quickly mounted his charge after teeing off on the 10th hole at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
The PGA Tour veteran reeled off birdies on two of his first three holes and, although he gave one back with a bogey on 13, he rebounded with an eagle-three at the 586-yard 15th and two more birdies on 16 and 18.
Little known Rich Beem, whose only other appearance at the PGA championship in 1999 resulted in a 70th-place finish, also mounted an early second-round charge, mixing four birdies with a bogey-six to reach the turn at three under.
Padraig Harrington had a steady start to his round to moved to two alongside Nick Faldo despite struggling with an ankle injury. The Dubliner, amazed by his 71 yesterday considering the way he struck the ball and his discomfort from the ankle problem, birdied the long 11th - his second - to move to two under overall.
Paul McGinley is the next best placed of the Irish contingent on two over but has yet to tee off his second round.
Darren Clarke, meanwhile, has set about repairing some of the damage from yesterday’s disastrous 79. The Dungannon man has moved to four over through 10 holes and should he continue in the same vein will have a realistic chance of making the cut.