Florida: Britain's Martin Laird fired a superb seven-under-par 65 to move one stroke ahead of American Spencer Levin and South Korean KJ Choi in the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Friday.
Laird, who has been based in the United States for the last decade, is searching for his second win on the PGA Tour following his breakthrough victory at the 2009 Las Vegas Open.
An eagle at the par-five 16th, the Scot's seventh hole of the day, made the difference for the 28-year-old who sank a 30-foot putt there after hitting his second shot from the rough.
"I'm driving really well and putting really well and ask any pro and they will tell you that's a pretty good combination to have, especially on a long course where you have to drive the ball on the fairway," Laird told reporters.
The Scotsman has quietly risen up the world rankings to 40th but has enjoyed an excellent March, tying for 10th in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral before finishing joint fifth at last week's Transitions Championship in Tampa.
Overnight leader Levin looked completely at home on a course which was much easier to handle on Friday without the strong winds of the opening round.
The 26-year-old carded a 70, bogeying the par-three 14th and the short 17th before signing off with a birdie at the last for an eight-under total of 136.
SPECTACULAR CHOI
Choi had the round of the day, though, with a spectacular, bogey-free 64 highlighted by an eagle at the 16th where he made a 20-foot putt.
The Korean credited his success to a return to his trusty old Odyssey putter and to his unusual choice of including three hybrid clubs in his bag.
"The key thing was going back to my old putter -- that helped so much," Choi said.
"I've always had trouble playing these par threes but I changed to the hybrids and they go far and high and I am able to stop the ball on the green. I think the strategy of going with the hybrids really paid off for me.
Steve Marino and Charles Howell III put themselves strongly in the frame for the weekend with respective rounds of 67 and 65, ending the day tied for fourth at six under with fellow Americans Hunter Mahan (69) and Vaughn Taylor (68).
Six-times champion Tiger Woods, seeking his first win since November 2009, moved into contention with a five-birdie 68, finishing six off the pace alongside Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who also carded a 68.
"I'm right there, there is a long weekend ahead of us ... unfortunately I left a lot of putts dead center short," said Woods. "There were about five putts that were dead center. It could have been a pretty special round."
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