PGA Tour veteran Charley Hoffman and the Philippines’ Rico Hoey each shot 9-under-par 63 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Friday to split the 36-hole lead at The American Express in La Quinta, Calif.
Hoffman and Hoey reached 16-under 128 for the tournament, with Justin Lower (66, Nicklaus) and Mark Hubbard (64, Pete Dye Stadium Course) right behind at 15 under.
Hoffman, 48, hasn’t won on tour since 2016. Hoey, 29, is hunting for his first PGA Tour title.
Former major winner Jason Day of Australia remained in the mix with a 66 at the Nicklaus course, getting him to 14 under with J.J. Spaun (also 66, Nicklaus).
The tournament’s cut will not arrive until after the third round Saturday. The unique setup sees golfers play one round apiece at the Pete Dye Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West as well as one at La Quinta Country Club, each of them par-72 layouts. The Stadium Course hosts the final round following a 54-hole cut to the top 65 and ties.
Some big names are lurking not far behind the leaders.
Rickie Fowler’s 62 at the Nicklaus course was one of the best rounds of the day and propelled him to 13 under, where among others, he was tied with Justin Thomas (64, Nicklaus) and Canadian Nick Taylor (66, La Quinta), last week’s winner at the Sony Open. Patrick Cantlay (64, Nicklaus) reached 12 under.
–Field Level Media
