Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy is three shots behind American leader Bud Cauley at the halfway point of the Cognizant Classic in Florida.
Cauley, world No. 1,258, is making only his second PGA Tour start since September 2020 after injuries following a car accident., external in 2018.
A bogey-free 65 at PGA National put the 33-year-old at 11 under.
McIlroy, the world number two, carded a second straight score of four-under-par 67 to reach eight-under par.
American Austin Eckroat and South African Garrick Higgo are at 10 under, while England’s David Skinns and Irishman Shane Lowry are alongside McIlroy in a group of players at 8 under.
Belgian Thomas Detry strengthens the ranking after sinking six putts on the par-four sixth hole, although he hit his second shot to within 6 feet.
He ultimately left the green with a quadruple bogey eight and carded an 80 to move to 11.
Ten players will complete their second round Saturday after play was suspended due to darkness in Palm Beach Gardens.
Cauley, who is playing on a medical exemption after suffering six broken ribs, a collapsed right lung and a broken left leg in the 2018 accident.
He returned to playing but had complications in late 2020 and required follow-up surgeries.
Cauley returned to the developmental Korn Ferry Tour in January with two top-35 finishes and made his return to the PGA Tour at last month’s Phoenix Open where he finished 65th.
“There were many times when I thought my career was over,” Cauley said.
“It’s nice to be back here playing and playing well. It makes me even happier that I kept going and didn’t stop trying.
“I expected to go out and compete, and I felt like my game was in the right place. Saying it is one thing, doing it is another.”
