Ernie Els got his feet wet to continue his run of impressive pre-Masters form by grabbing a share of the second round lead at the Arnold Palmer golf Invitational in Florida.
The South African's solid three under-par round of 69 at Bay Hill was enough to move him in a tie for the lead on seven-under with American trio D.J Trahan, Ben Curtis and Davis Love III.
It could have been very different for Els, who earlier this month claimed his first tour win in two years with victory at the WGC-CA Championship at Doral, if he had not made a remarkable recovery from a water hazard on the sixth.
Els went on to make six birdies and a bogey in the rest of his round to set up what he called "a very interesting weekend".
The leading quartet are just a stroke ahead of Els' compatriot Retief Goosen, world number three Phil Mickelson and American Kevin Na.
The New Zealanders Danny Lee and Michael Campbell missed the cut.
