Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth avoided any early mishaps in the gusting St Andrews wind after belatedly beginning their second rounds in The Open, as Danny Willett remained out in front.
Johnson, the first-round leader courtesy of a wonderful 65, and Spieth, two shots worse off after day one, teed off at 5:48pm local time following an early-morning suspension in play, caused by torrential rain, that lasted more than three hours.
By that point, Willett had set a challenging target of nine under - the Englishman mixing five birdies with two dropped shots in a 69.
Adam Scott (67), a top-five finisher in each of the last three Opens, Marc Warren (68) and Zach Johnson (71) were all safely in the clubhouse at seven under and handily placed for the weekend.
Yet the likes of Dustin Johnson, Spieth and Jason Day still had much work to do - with the earlier hold-up threatening to ensure their second rounds would be completed on Saturday morning.
Johnson and Spieth each began with three consecutive pars as the other member of their group, Hideki Matsuyama, improved to three under with a trio of birdies.
Yet Johnson closed to within one of Willett by birdieing the fourth - a welcome boost ahead of a reunion with the fifth hole he eagled on day one.
Robert Streb, Thursday's surprise package, and Paul Lawrie both picked up a shot to reach seven under, the former's gain on the third followed by nine successive pars.
Day, meanwhile, was six under after a birdie-bogey start, alongside Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel.
Justin Rose and Geoff Ogilvy each shot 68 to get to five under and Tiger Woods - playing with Day - appeared to need something similar if he was to have any chance of making the cut, having opened with a 76.