Hideki Matsuyama backed up his opening 65 with another, this time bogey-free, to reach 16-under and take a one-shot lead at The Sentry. His 130 total falls one shot short of his career-best 36-hole score and the Japanese player leads the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (6.312).
Matsuyama is looking for his eleventh PGA Tour title in his 265th start.
American Collin Morikawa made a bogey at the 6th and shot five consecutive birdies from the 13th to card a 65 and move into second place at 15-under. Morikawa has twice previously made six birdies in a row, most recently in the first round of the 2024 Tour Championship.
“I just hit some quality shots and gave myself a run of birdie opportunities. I felt like for the entire back nine I had birdie looks. Obviously, I made a handful, but it was just nice to see a couple drop and hit also, you know, a couple close on 14 and 15.”
Canadian Corey Conners made an eagle at the par-5 15th, a bogey and closed with three birdies for a 66 to move into a share of third place at 14-under.
Overnight leader Tom Hoge of the United States shot a bogey-free 68 to move down into third place alongside compatriot Maverick McNealy who carded a bogey-free 64 and Belgium’s Thomas Detry whose bogey-free 65 featured an eagle at the par-4 14th.
“Seems like Hideki is trying to birdie every hole out there, so it was nice to kind of keep up the pace with him a little bit,” said Hoge. “I didn’t feel like I was real sharp tee to green today. I would like to have a few more opportunities there from inside of 10 feet for birdies. Really didn’t have that many until the last few holes, so it was nice to get a few to go in from.”
