Retief Goosen birdied his first three holes to share the lead with Aaron Baddeley after the second round of the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Goosen added only two birdies over the final 15 holes but had only one bogey in a four-under-par 66 in a challenging breeze which gusted to 20 miles per hour on the Waialae course.
The South African said: "A 66 today is probably as good as a 64 yesterday."
Goosen's 10-under-par total of 130 was matched by Baddeley in the last group of the day.
The 21-year-old Australian finished strongly with three birdies on the final five holes for a 64 - the day's best score.
Goosen and Baddeley are one stroke in front of South African Ernie Els, Chris DiMarco and Australian Peter Lonard.
Els, who won last Sunday's season-opening Mercedes Championship with a PGA Tour-record 31-under-par, was pleased with his form after firing a 65.
"I missed quite a few opportunities, but you've got to be satisfied with four-under and five-under for your first two rounds," he said.
"Yesterday was a little scrappy, but today I hit the ball pretty crisply. The greens are putting beautifully, so a low score can be had."
A total of 77 made the cut at even-par 140 but PGA Championship winner Rich Beem was among those to miss it by one shot.