ORLANDO, Florida — Jason Day, who has worked hard to hone a “killer instinct,” drained a 35-foot birdie putt on his final hole to take a two-shot lead after Friday’s second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational here.
One stroke ahead overnight, the Australian world No. 3 was again superb on the greens at Bay Hill needing just 27 putts on the way to a seven-under-par 65 and a 13-under aggregate of 131.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson was alone in second after firing a seven-birdie 66, with former US Open champion Justin Rose of England a further stroke back at 10-under, also after a 66.
Long-hitting Day, who won his first major title at last year’s PGA Championship, was delighted with his form after making a slow start to the PGA Tour season with one top-10 finish in four tournaments.
“I’m trying to make sure that I am deliberate on every pre-shot routine when I am out there,” Day told Golf Channel after charging clear of the chasing pack with four birdies in his last seven holes.
“That was the missing part for me earlier in the year, that focus and that kind of killer instinct going into each shot like it’s my last ... I am definitely coming around nicely now.”
Day, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, has previously struggled at Bay Hill where his best finish was a tie for 17th last year.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, shockingly erratic off the tee in his opening 75, improved greatly as he carded a 67 to ensure he would make the cut, which fell at level-par 144.
Kim grabs LPGA lead
South Korean Kim Sei-young had two eagles in a six-under par 66 Friday to grab a two-stroke lead over American Brittany Lang at the LPGA Founders Cup in Phoenix, Arizona.
Kim and Lang, who had dueled for the lead early Thursday, again found themselves battling in the second round, trading the lead before Kim emerged in front with a 36-hole total of 15-under 129.
It was Kim’s second eagle of the day, at the par-five 15th, that put her in front for good.
Her second shot with a five-iron was on line all the way, leaving her with a seven-footer for the eagle.
Kim has held at least a share of the 36-hole lead five times in her career, going on to win three of those events in 2015.
Lang teed off on 10 and took sole possession of the lead at 14-under par with her fourth birdie of the day, at the par-four third hole.
She gave a shot back with her only bogey of the day at the seventh, finishing with a 68 that left her on 131.
American Jacqui Concolino and Italy’s Giulia Sergas shared third on 132. Concolino carded a 64 and Sergas signed for a 68.
They were one stroke in front of South Korean Ji Eun-Hee (67) and American Gerina Piller (68).
First round leader Lee Mi-hyang who scorched the Wildfire Golf Club course with a 10-under par 62Thursday, couldn’t keep up the torrid pace and signed for a three-over par 75.
That left her in a group of 15 players sharing 25th on 137 that also included world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand and South Korean great Pak Se-ri — who said Thursday that 2016 would be her last competitive season.
