Steve Stricker in the driving seat after second-round 66

World No4 Stricker, fully recovered from shoulder trouble that hampered him for the previous two months, was on 16 under par after 36 holes after following an opening 11-under-par 60 with a five-under second round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys.

Stricker had begun the day a shot behind overnight leader Paul Goydos, who yesterday became the fourth player in PGA Tour history to shoot a 59.

Goydos, one of Corey Pavin's selections as a United States Ryder Cup team vice-captain at Celtic Manor this October, began his second round in the late wave of starters, four shots behind Stricker, but quickly cut the deficit.

Goydos, 46, birdied his opening hole at the par-five 10th and was at 13 under after six holes around the 7,257-yard, par-71 TPC Deere Run course in Silvis.

Starting the day seven strokes behind Goydos, fellow American veteran Jeff Maggert, also 46, shot a 65 to move to 11 under, while Zimbabwean Brendon de Jonge and Australia's Aaron Baddeley were in the clubhouse at 10 under following rounds of 65 and 68 respectively.

James Nitties, who had shared third place overnight, five shots back, with compatriots Baddeley and Matt Jones as well as American Michael Letzig, got to nine under with a second-round 69 where he was joined by American Webb Simpson, who carded a 66.