(Photo credit score: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Images)
PGA Tour veteran Charley Hoffman and the Philippines’ Rico Hoey every shot 9-under-par 63 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Friday to separate the 36-hole lead at The American Express in La Quinta, Calif.
Hoffman and Hoey reached 16-under 128 for the event, with Justin Lower (66, Nicklaus) and Mark Hubbard (64, Pete Dye Stadium Course) proper behind at 15 below.
Hoffman, 48, hasn’t received on tour since 2016. Hoey, 29, is trying to find his first PGA Tour title.
Former main winner Jason Day of Australia remained within the combine with a 66 on the Nicklaus course, getting him to 14 below with J.J. Spaun (additionally 66, Nicklaus).
The event’s lower won’t arrive till after the third spherical Saturday. The distinctive setup sees golfers play one spherical apiece on the Pete Dye Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West in addition to one at La Quinta Country Club, every of them par-72 layouts. The Stadium Course hosts the ultimate spherical following a 54-hole lower to the highest 65 and ties.
Some huge names are lurking not far behind the leaders.
Rickie Fowler’s 62 on the Nicklaus course was top-of-the-line rounds of the day and propelled him to 13 below, the place amongst others, he was tied with Justin Thomas (64, Nicklaus) and Canadian Nick Taylor (66, La Quinta), final week’s winner on the Sony Open. Patrick Cantlay (64, Nicklaus) reached 12 below.
–Field Level Media