The Swede sank eight birdie putts as he took the lead alone after the first 18 holes. But before he went out for another walk in the spring sunshine on the links course in Harbour Town, South Carolina, Fitzpatrick had been fuming.
The Englishman matched the Swede's eight birdies from Thursday. When he stepped off the final green, Fitzpatrick was 14 strokes under par - and the man to chase.
Åberg accepted the challenge.
After the first nine, he had collected three birdies and the rest pars and headed towards the clubhouse at eleven strokes under par.
After 28 bogey-free holes, the first blow came, and Åberg lost a stroke. Another was lost on hole 13 and another on the long 15th before the slide was stopped with a birdie.
Åberg carded a 70, one under par, and is tied for fourth at minus 9 along with Patrick Cantlay and Sepp Straka, five strokes behind Fitzpatrick.
Norwegian Viktor Hovland is at minus 13, in sole second place.
Alex Norén can't get his game going. He started two strokes over par and lost two more after another round of 73 on Friday. With a total of four over par, he is currently tied for 75th place.
He will still be allowed to play this weekend. RBC Heritage has no cut. All 82 players will play four rounds.
