The Swede - making his debut in the event - started with a birdie at his opening hole, his 10th, and added three in a row from the 14th. Further gains at seven and nine lifted him to 11-under and into a one-shot lead over Louis Oosthuizen and Adam Scott.
South African Oosthuizen made the biggest move up the leaderboard after a majestic nine-under 63 took him from one-under to 10-under.
Out in 31, he didn't let up on the back nine and more birdies at 12, 13, 16 and 18 put him right on Jacobson's tail.
Scott, who won golf's last world championship in Akron in August, went to the turn in a superb 31 after reeling off six birdies in seven holes from the third. And two closing birdies gave him a seven-under 65.
"I got a new driver a couple of weeks ago and it just seems to work really well."Jacobson on key to good play Quotes of the week
Jacobson, who had his first PGA Tour victory in America in June and was third in Malaysia last week, said: "It's been a great couple of days. I feel I've been striking the ball well and I've been setting up a lot of chances out there.
"I got a new driver a couple of weeks ago and it just seems to work really well. I feel I've been having pretty good distance off the tees, and if I can hit it straight, which I have so far, I'm going to get some good looks with my irons," added the Swede.
Oosthuizen, meanwhile, surprised even himself after his sparkling 63 rocketed him up the leaderboard.
"I don't think I've ever shot a 63. I think I've shot 62 once in a tournament round, but you know, it was probably at my local course back in South Africa that I last shot a 63," said the South African who was 30th after his opening 71.
"I don't think I missed a green today as I hit the ball really well. It was nice, a good, solid day for me," added Oosthuizen.
Scott said he was happy to keep his momentum going after a fast start.
"It was a good round today to keep pace with the leaders. I got off to a fairly fast start on the front nine. It was nice to make a couple on the back nine to take advantage of the good front nine," said Scott.
"I'm pleased to be in touch but obviously scoring is low, so I'm going to have to play well on the weekend to keep in touch with them," added the Australian.
The leading trio know that plenty of big names will be chasing them on the weekend.
USPGA winner Keegan Bradley, the first round leader, is two behind after a 70 while it's a further stroke back to England's Paul Casey (66) and last week's Malaysia winner Bo Van Pelt (69).
World number two Lee Westwood is handily placed at seven-under after three birdies in his last five holes while Martin Kaymer is also four back. Both carded 68s on Friday and share seventh place with Thongchai Jaidee and Aaron Baddeley.
Rory McIlroy had seven birdies on his card on in round two but mixed them with four bogeys to temper his progress up the leaderboard. It added up to a 69 and leaves the 22-year-old US Open champion six back with two rounds to play.
A shot better off at six-under are a big bunch of elite names - 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell, English trio Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Simon Dyson, Korean KJ Choi and Hunter Mahan.
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