Tiger Woods, who shot an opening 64, backed it up to tie fellow American Ryan Moore for third on 132.
By that stage Ryan Moore was ahead on Rip Van Winkle but Hughes and Canford Cliffs were up to the task.
Ryan Moore, in his first professional tournament, was tied for 51st place after ending his round with two birdies for a 72 that left him at six over.
The 33-1 chance was unfancied by punters after Johnny Murtagh chose stable companion Steinbeck, but with Ryan Moore on board he finished with a flourish alongside another Ballydoyle challenger Fencing Master.
Scott Piercy closed with 61 to be third on 23 under, one shot ahead of fellow American Ryan Moore (65), while Ryan Palmer carded 62 for fifth on 19 under.
CNN: Mickelson flirts with history in wire-to-wire Phoenix win
Graeme McDowell edged a close game with Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk defeated Ryan Moore while 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson and 2012 U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson moved into round two.
CNN: Nike duo Woods and McIlroy humbled in the Arizona desert
Perfect Stride provided Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute with a second Royal Ascot winner of the week when coming out on top in the Wolferton Handicap after a thrilling dual with Moonquake .
Joseph O'Brien, Ballydoyle's stable jockey and son of the trainer, had opted to ride the equally immodestly named Battle of Marengo, leaving the way clear for Ryan Moore to claim the ride on Ruler of the World.
Woods carded a second consecutive five-under-par 67 to join overnight leader Nick Watney (70) on 10-under-par, with world number two Phil Mickelson returning a 66 to lie a shot behind alongside compatriot Ryan Moore and Spain's Alvaro Quiros.
Woods was three shots off the pace at the World Golf Championships event, tied for fifth with fellow U.S. Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim, their compatriot Ryan Moore, world No. 4 Paul Casey and Hong Kong Open champion Wen-tang Lin.
Clowe, also acquired at the trade deadline, will be an unrestricted free agent, and young forwards Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Mats Zuccarello, along with key defensemen Moore and Ryan McDonagh are heading into restricted free agency.
After appearing to be the front-runner ahead of rookie Ryan Tannehill and veteran Matt Moore, the former Jacksonville Jaguars star was cut by the Miami Dolphins last summer after he needed arthroscopic surgery on his knee.
Moore became the first Rays pitcher to win his first four starts of a season, Ryan Roberts homered twice and Tampa Bay beat CC Sabathia and the Yankees 5-1 on Monday night.
应用推荐