American Zach Johnson and Alex Noren of Sweden share a one-stroke lead over two golfers entering Friday’s second round of the $8.4 million American Express PGA tournament, after shooting 10-under 62s at the La Quinta Country Club.
Rico Hoey, a former Rancho Cucamonga High School and USC standout who was born in the Philippines, and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout are tied for third at 9-under 63.
Nine golfers are tied for fifth, two strokes off the lead, including former UCLA standout Patrick Cantlay, 2021 Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele and Nick Dunlap, the lone amateur in the field.
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked men’s golfer, was among 15 golfers tied for 39th, five strokes off the lead, after firing a 5-under 67 at the La Quinta Country Club.
Johnson began his round with a birdie on the first hole, parred the next two, then reeled off six consecutive birdies, matching his career-best birdie streak. Johnson also birdied the 11th, 14th and 17th holes in his bogey-free round.
“Got off to a good start, gained some momentum,” said the 47-year-old Johnson, who is seeking his 13th victory on the PGA Tour and first since the 2015 British Open. “Hit a lot of shots in the middle of the club face. When I had loft in my hand I was able to be aggressive, which is always key. Obviously, I putted good.”
Noren began his round on the 10th hole and was at 7-under through seven holes with five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 13th hole. The 41-year-old former Oklahoma State standout followed a double-bogey 6 on the par-4 17th, parred the next four holes, had three consecutive birdies then closed out the round with back-to-back birdies after a par on the par-3 seventh hole.
“I don’t think I’ve been 7-under after 7 and then I hit it out of bounds on my eighth hole,” said Noren, who is making his 165th start on the PGA Tour and continues in pursuit of his first victory. He has three second-place finishes and four third-place finishes.
“Played a little worse in the middle, couldn’t really get the ball the right distance into the greens. Then came down with five birdies on the last six so I’m super happy.”
The 28-year-old Hoey had a bogey-free 9-under 63 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course in his fourth career start on the PGA Tour.
“It was a great start,” said Hoey, who missed the cut in last week’s Sony Open. “I kept the ball in front of me. It was kind of cool having everyone out here, my family, my dad, girlfriend, coaches, everyone out here. Feels like a home event for me. I only live an hour away. I grew up out here, playing junior tournaments out here, so it was fun.”
Bezuidenhout’s 9-under 63 was one stroke shy of his career best, posted in third round of last year’s The American Express on the Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Following a front nine at the La Quinta Country Club with three birdies and six pars, Cantlay birdied three of his final four holes for an 8-under 64.
“I think I didn’t get all I really wanted to out of the front nine,” said Cantlay, sixth on the Official World Golf Ranking. “I did really stay patient. I did a good job of that today, on a golf course I really like, and it’s in perfect shape.”
Schauffele birdied four of his first seven holes at the La Quinta County Club, chipped in for an eagle on the par-5 11th and back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes before finishing his round with five consecutive pars.
Scheffler played the front nine at La Quinta Country Club at 1-under with birdies on the first and ninth holes and a bogey on the par-4 second hole. Scheffler birdied the 10th, 11th, 13th and 18th holes on the back nine.
“It was a weird day,” Scheffler said. “I had numerous bad breaks to start my round. It was very frustrating. No. 2, I hit a good drive that would have been left center of the fairway, it hits a tree and goes out of bounds, it was an over hanging tree there, and it’s like, `What are the odds it’s going to hit it and go out of bounds?’ That cost me two shots.
“I had a lot of putts early in the round that kept hitting lips. Then, par-5, I was green side, hit a bunker shot that was really good, rock in the way. Little stuff like that that was pretty frustrating to start my day. But I kept fighting and ended up with a nice score. Not what I was hoping for today, but still just to kind fight through what was going on and post a number was good.”
Dunlap, a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Alabama and 2023 U.S. Amateur champion, began his round on the 10th hole of the Nicklaus Tournament Course, birdied the 10th and 12th holes and eagled the par-5 11th. He birdied the 15th, second and fifth holes, bogeyed the par-4 sixth hole and eagled the par-5 seventh for an 8-under 64.
“As far as the start, it’s almost picture perfect in my eyes,” said Dunlap, who is making his fourth PGA Tour start. “I had some really good breaks out there, to be honest. Got one good kick from a tree on 13. Was able to keep it going, putter got hot. Happy with the way it ended.”
Cantlay is the tournament favorite at 6-1, after opening as the second choice at 10-1, according to BetMGM, an official betting operator of the PGA Tour. Schauffele is the second choice at 7-1 after opening as the third choice at 11-1.
Scheffler is the third choice at 11-1 after opening as the pre-tournament favorite at 11-2.
The golfers who played at the La Quinta Country Club Thursday will move to the Nicklaus Tournament Course Friday. The golfers who played at the Nicklaus Tournament Course Thursday will move to the PGA West Stadium Course. Golfers who played at the PGA West Stadium Course Thursday will move to the La Quinta Country Club.
The field will be reduced to the low 65 and ties following the conclusion of the third round.
Grammy-winning country singer Keith Urban will perform a concert on the PGA West Stadium Course driving range following conclusion of play Friday.
The tournament is scheduled to run through Sunday. The winner will receive a tournament-record $1.512 million.