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Justin Thomas was not quite as hot as he was in the first round when he fired a blistering 59, but he was still plenty good enough to break a PGA Tour record and maintain the lead on Friday at the Sony Open in Honolulu. Thomas posted a 6-under-par 64 in the second round and moved out to a five-stroke lead over fellow American Gary Woodland. At 17-under 123, Thomas set the PGA Tour's all-time 36-hole scoring record.
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The previous mark was 124, which was last reached by Jason Day at the 2015 BMW Championship.
"It's cool," Thomas said. "Any time you can get your name in the record books is awesome. ... I'd love that (123) a couple more times in my career."
Woodland carded a 64 for the second consecutive and was at 12-under 128 at Waialae Country Club.
"I'm very comfortable with where my game is," Thomas said. "Driver feels great, I just don't get many opportunities out there. I'm not complaining about being in the fairway, either.''
Zach Johnson torched the course with a 9-under 61 to move into a tie for third place at 10-under 130 with Hudson Swafford and Justin Rose of England. All three were seven behind the leader.
Rose, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist and only non-American in the top five, shot a 64 and Swafford followed a first-round 62 with a 68.
Thomas capped his round with an 8-foot eagle putt after making bogey on the previous hole. The 23-year-old had eagles his first and last holes on Thursday.
Earlier in the second round, Thomas birdied four holes in a row starting at No. 9. His day's work included the eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys.
Last week, the red-hot Thomas won the SBS Tournament of Champions title. He is attempting to become the first player since Tiger Woods (2003, 08, 13) to win three times in his first five tournaments in a season.
Johnson capped his 61 with an eagle on the 18th hole. The 2009 Sony champion also had seven birdies, including five on the front nine, and no bogeys.
Jordan Spieth was tied for 13th at 8 under after a 67.
