Without a win since his triumph here in 1996, Corey Pavin shot a six-under-par 64 to lead defending champion Phil Mickelson and Brett Quigley by a stroke after the second round of The Colonial.
This event has been held only at The Colonial Country Club since its inception in 1946, making it the longest running course to hold a PGA Tour event.
Pavin won here in 1985 and 1996, lost a play-off to Bruce Lietzke in 1992 and was second in 1990.
"Obviously, I like playing Colonial," said the 41-year-old, whose lowest round in two years gave him a 36-hole total of eight-under 132.
"My record here shows that. It always helps me to come back here."
Mickelson's two-under 68 during an abnormally benign second round has him a stroke behind Pavin at seven-under 133 and in contention for his second straight title here.
Quigley admitted the field got lucky playing through light wind, after shooting a 64 to tie Mickelson for second at 133.
"I thought starting in the afternoon it would be a hard day because it was blowing pretty good about noon, 1 o'clock," he said.
Mickelson, ranked second in the world to Tiger Woods, started his round with birdie putts of 25 and 12 feet.
He countered bogeys at the seventh and 12th with birdies at the 15th and 18th.
Pavin bogeyed the fourth and 18th holes but had five birdies in between. Included in the stretch was a 30-foot putt at the ninth.
"I feel a lot more comfortable on the golf course," he said. PA