Scottie Scheffler posted a bogey-free 8-under 64 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course, marking his 11th consecutive round in the 60s at The American Express, to take a share of the lead at 17-under.

“Feeling good. I feel like my game’s in a good spot, excited to get out there tomorrow and hopefully put together another solid round,” said Scheffler. “The courses are in good shape, you got good weather conditions, I think that’s a recipe for some low scores when you got guys with the amount of talent that we have out here on Tour. I think when you get those two things together you’re going to see some low scores.”

Scheffler holds his 20th career 36-hole lead/co-lead on the PGA Tour. He has onverted four of his last five 36-hole leads/co-leads into wins (2025 Open Championship, 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, 2024 Tour Championship, 2024 Memorial Tournament).

The World No.1 won six times in 2025, his second consecutive season with at least six wins (2024/7), joining Tiger Woods (1999/8, 2000/9, 2005/6, 2006/8, 2007/7, 2009/6) as the only two players since 1983 to record 6+ wins in multiple seasons.

Scheffler finished last season inside the top 25 in all 20 starts, with a season-high 17 top-10 finishes (including 15 straight). He ranked first in scoring average in Round 1 (67.45), Round 2 (68.00), Round 3 (68.40) and Round 4 (68.10) in 2025, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods (2000) to lead in all four categories in a single season.

Fellow American Blades Brown made an eagle at the par-5 11th and closed with a career-low 12-under 60 to take a share of the lead. He set a tournament 18-hole scoring record at the Nicklaus Tournament Course (previous best: 61, 7 times).

“I just really like this golf course. There’s something about the Nicklaus Course that I just really like. Like, it’s so money. It’s so pure. Everything is just perfectly well kept. I love playing with no wind. So when you put all those things together it’s fun,” said Brown.

“Tomorrow obviously the Stadium Course is the more difficult of the three golf courses. I haven’t played it yet, so I’m just going to go see where I can hit it down the fairway, hit it on the green, and try to make a putt.”

This marks his first career lead/co-lead after any round in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event (26 total starts; 10 on PGA Tour, 16 Korn Ferry Tour).

Brown is playing on a sponsor exemption in his 10th PGA Tour start. At 18 years, 8 months, 2 days, he becomes the youngest player in Tour history to record a round of 60 or better (previous: Patrick Cantlay/19 years, 3 months, 7 days).

The 18-year-old turned professional in 2024 and earned special temporary membership on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025. He finished No. 68 on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, including four top-25s in 14 starts, to secure 2026 status.

His best finish in a PGA Tour-sanctioned start is T2 (2025 Veritex Championship on Korn Ferry Tour). His best finish in nine career PGA Tour starts is T26 (2024 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic).

Brown becomes the youngest player to hold a lead/co-lead after any round on the PGA Tour since Ty Tryon (17) was a first-round co-leader at the 2001 B.C. Open (finished T37).

2021 American Express winner Si Woo Kim of Korea eagled the par-5 5th and carded a bogey-free 65 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course to move down into third place at 16-under.

For the first time in 71 career stroke-play events played on the PGA Tour, S. H. Kim of Korea is bogey free through 36-holes. He closed with a 66 and lies in T4 at 15-under.

American Matt McCarty made one bogey and closed with a 66 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course for a share of fourth place. He set a career-low 36-hole score (129; previous best: 130/2024 Black Desert Championship). The last time McCarty was T4 through 36-holes he went on to win (2024 Black Desert Championship).

Second-round scoring average by course: Stadium Course (70.20), Nicklaus Course (67.45), La Quinta CC (67.96).

Related: Brandon Fischer interview

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