Australian golfer Cameron Smith fires early at Pebble Beach

Japanese co-leader Hiroshi Iwata, who shot a 6-under 66 at Pebble Beach, was asked what he liked most about the course.

First-time visitor Justin Rose is also in the mix at minus nine but the other big mover of the day was four-time champion Phil Mickelson.

While players such as Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed scuffled around Spyglass Hill, traditionally the tournament’s toughest layout, a cast of relative unknowns surged to the front playing the two slightly easier courses, Pebble Beach Golf Links and Monterey Peninsula Country Club.

Starting on the par-five 10th hole, Dunne made an eagle three before handing one shot back on the par-three 11th.

“Even on days I putt well, I still don’t make as many putts as I made today”, Reavie told reporters.

“I’m 1 under on the par 5s, and from where I’ve been, they have pretty much all been par 4s for me”, Spieth said.

South African Justin Rose, the No. 4-ranked player in the world competing in the AT&T for the first time, had a 68 at MPCC and is alone at 9 under.

THE KEY SHOT: Mickelson had only 11 putts on the front nine.

“I appreciate and enjoy this tournament for what it is”, he said of his success in the event.

Kang and Phil Mickelson each brought the possibility of 59 into the conversation.

Day, also playing at Spyglass Hill, mirrored the performance of the Texan as he struggled to get going on Thursday.

“I’m excited to get after it, because I’m playing great and putting great and it should be fun to go out there and see if I can’t get it done again”, Snedeker said. He now sits 1 shot back of the lead.

“I made nearly every putt inside 15 feet today”, said Kang, who said his prior career best round was a 61.

Said Kang: “He’s definitely a veteran, over 40 years, so I can definitely trust him”.

Ruffels, 17, was in the last group out at Pebble Beach, but remained patient throughout a long afternoon.

The American was eyeing a 59 himself at one stage – the left-hander got it to seven-under thru ten holes with an eagle of his own at Monterey’s par-five tenth – before bogeys at the par-five 12th and par-four 18th saw him finish the day with a six-under 65. He made just one bogey in his 72-hole run (Pebble Beach’s par-4 third hole, third round) and 23 birdies en route to a 22 under-par total of 265.

The leaderboard feels volatile because no one knows what to expect from Kang or whether Iwata can keep things going. “Once I start getting that control back in the swing and I start gaining a little bit more confidence, then hopefully from there I will start playing a little better”. South African star Charl Schwartzel opened with a 71 in his first start in the event.