LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa fired seven birdies in a seven-under-par 66 on Friday to grab a two-shot lead in the US PGA Tour Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
As the wind picked up at Kapalua, Morikawa was the only player in the field to remain bogey-free through 36 holes.
His 16-under par second-round total of 130 put him two clear of world number two Scottie Scheffler and fellow American J.J. Spaun.
Scheffler, who could regain the world number one ranking from Rory McIlroy with a top-three finish this week, closed with four straight birdies in his 66 for 14-under 132.
Spaun, who was part of a three-way tie for the lead on Thursday with Morikawa and Jon Rahm, carded a five-under 68.
Morikawa, who won the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship, pulled away early, opening his round with a 19-foot birdie at the first hole.
He added birdies at the third, fourth and fifth to make the turn at 13-under, then drilled a 30-foot birdie putt at the 10th.
After saving par from greenside bunkers at the 12th and 13th, Morikawa blasted out of a greenside trap to eight feet at 14 and made that for birdie.
