Grégory Bourdy made a brilliant move to the top of the leaderboard as the second round of the US Open began to reach its conclusion at Oakmont Country Club while Rory McIlroy manoeuvred back into contention.
Weather delays on Thursday meant that half the field had to play their second rounds on Saturday morning with big-hitting American Dustin Johnson the man to catch at four under after rounds of 67-69.
England's Lee Westwood had moved past Johnson in the early stages of this second round with birdies on the first and fourth but he slipped back with bogeys on the sixth, seventh and ninth to sit two shots behind at the turn.
Frenchman Bourdy was the man making the big move, as he recovered from an opening bogey to turn in 33 before a stunning eagle on the 11th and birdie on the 13th catapulted him into a share of the lead.
McIlroy had started his tournament with a disappointing 77 and was in danger of missing the cut but he made four birdies on his front nine to sit seven shots off the lead.
Bourdy holed a 28-footer on the fifth and when he put his tee-shot on the next to six feet, he was gathering momentum. Another lengthy putt of 38 feet followed on the ninth before he holed from 137 yards on the 11th with the ball spinning back into the hole.
A brilliant tee-shot to four feet on the 13th then moved him alongside Johnson.
Westwood made the perfect start as he put a brilliant approach to three feet on the first and then did very well to get up and down and save par on the second.
When he found the green on the par five fourth in two, he made a birdie to move to five under but sand trouble on the sixth saw him drop back and another bogey followed before he missed a short putt on the ninth.
Sergio Garcia and Scott Piercy were alongside Westwood at two under having completed two rounds with Andy Sullivan a further shot back.
Shane Lowry was two over for his round at level par after eight holes.
McIlroy had birdies on the tenth, 12th, 14th and 16th and looked set to continue his surge as he drove the par four 17th, but a three-putt stalled his momentum and he turned in 31.
