Antoine Rozner made two birdies in his final three holes to catch first-round leader Casey Jarvis as the pair head into the weekend of the Genesis Championship in a share of the lead.
The South African mixed four birdies with 14 pars to set the clubhouse target with a bogey-free 67, strengthening his bid for a third victory of the season that would lift him to second on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World.
But Rozner produced one of the rounds of the day late in the afternoon to draw level at the halfway stage, carding a flawless six-under 65.
Starting on the tenth, the Frenchman rolled in a 44-foot birdie putt at the 13th before adding further gains at the 16th and 18th to reach the turn in 33. He then picked up three more shots with short-range birdie conversions at the fifth, seventh and eighth holes to complete his bogey-free effort.
"I think the two days were pretty similar in terms of ball-striking and scoring," said Rozner.
"I played pretty solid overall. I missed a few greens here and there, but my chipping has been really good this week so far. My putting inside ten feet is very solid as well.
"So I think it's very solid overall. I'm very pleased, very happy with the score and the position I'm in."
The two-time DP World Tour winner believes his season has been more consistent than results alone may suggest and knows a strong finish could transform his campaign.
Currently 77th on the Race to Dubai Ranking delivered by DP World, he's targeting playing his way into the top 50 to ensure he competes at both events in the DP World Tour Play-Offs
"I think it's been pretty consistent all season," he said.
"I missed a lot of opportunities throughout the season and I'm in the position I'm in.
"Obviously, it would be a good bonus to play the Play-Offs, but in the position I'm in, I have to focus on winning the tournament. I can't hide that.
"If I can keep up the good work this week, get into Abu Dhabi and then who knows what can happen. It can go really quickly. It's what happened to me two years ago."
Earlier, Jarvis had continued his impressive form after beginning the day with a one-shot lead.
Starting on the tenth tee, he opened with seven consecutive pars before birdies at the 17th and 18th saw him turn in 33.
He maintained that momentum on his second nine, converting strong iron shots into birdies at the third and fourth before parring his way home to sign for a bogey-free round.
"I mean, it's been pretty solid," said Jarvis.
"I felt like I've hit some quality golf shots and rolled in some good putts, enjoying the fans out there.
"There's a few following Si Woo, so yeah, it was pretty nice and the food's unbelievable in this country as well, so yeah, I'm enjoying it.
"Yeah, I'm very proud of myself. I went bogey-free today, which is nice. I mean, I felt like I've just been really solid.
"I haven't been taking on the flags too much and kind of just hitting it onto greens and trying to make the long ones. Yeah, it's been good."
The consistency of his first two rounds is another reflection of a remarkable rise in 2026. The South African, who finished just inside the top 100 on the Race to Dubai Rankings last season without recording a top-ten finish, has claimed two titles in 2026 and put himself firmly among the Tour's standout performers.
The 23-year-old credits that progression largely to the confidence gained from claiming his maiden DP World Tour title at the Magical Kenya Open earlier this year.
"I think just a bit of confidence," he said of the difference.
"You know, when you get that first one over the line, I think everything just seems a little easier.
"So I think once I won in Kenya, everything kind of changed, the whole mindset thing.
"I just felt like the pressure was coming off me, so I think that was the biggest change, and then obviously I've been putting a lot better than the previous season, which also helps."
The pair sit three shots clear of a group of four players, including Open Champion Ryan Fox, DP World Tour winner Martin Couvra, as well as Korean Tour Order of Merit leader Sanghun Shin and Italian Filippo Celli.
While there was plenty of action at the top of the leaderboard that saw players secure their cards, there was also heartache at the bottom, as Kiradech Aphibarnrat withdrew with injury, ensuring he will miss out on keeping Category 10 status on the DP World Tour next season. As will Pablo Larrazabal, who vied to keep fighting at Qualifying School next month, and Sebastian Söderberg, who came into the week at 101st but missed the cut and is currently projected to fall to 103rd.
Sean Crocker produced a level-par 71 to finish on the cut line at one over, providing the American with a good chance of securing enough points over the weekend to climb from 103rd to inside the top 100 on the Race to Dubai Rankings.
