FLORIDA — Californian Charley Hoffman found his putting touch to surf into the halfway lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational here Friday.
Hoffman carded six-under-par 66 to head an international leaderboard after the second round at Bay Hill in Orlando, one stroke ahead of Argentine Emiliano Grillo and two in front of Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Jason Day finished seven strokes off the pace but it could have been much worse for the Australian than a one-under 71.
The world No. 2 received an extraordinarily lucky break at the par-four 18th, where he hooked his drive over the out-of-bounds line and into the property of an adjacent house. Fortunately, his ball hit a tree in the backyard of the house and took an enormous ricochet back into play, leaving a relieved Day in position to salvage par.
Hoffman had no such wayward issues and also made his share of putts for a change after discovering pre-tournament that his alignment had been a little off.
Despite the blond locks and laid-back attitude that make him look more surfer than golfer, the San Diego native is widely regarded as having one of the best long games on tour.
Hoffman holed two putts from outside 30 feet among his seven birdies, but he was most proud of the 10-footer he sank at the last.
Grillo was not pleased with the quality of his play despite a 68 putting him in second place on the leaderboard. Third-placed Fitzpatrick also used a sharp short game to stay on the leaderboard with a 69.
In the first staging of the event since the September death of Palmer, his grandson Sam Saunders missed the cut by one stroke.
Ariya shares lead
Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and American Stacy Lewis shot identical scores for the second straight day to sit atop a crowded leaderboard at the LPGA Tour’s Founders Cup with Michelle Wie lurking close behind.
Ariya and Lewis fired five-under 67s Friday following 64s in the opening round to reach 13-under par heading into the weekend at the Desert Ridge course. The duo leads Lee Jeong-eun, Hur Mi-jung, Wie and Vicky Hurst by one stroke and has a group, including Park In-bee, Jessica Korda and first round co-leader Chun In-gee within three shots of the lead. Ariya, Lewis and Chun were among five tied for the first round lead.
Ariya began her round on the back nine and it didn’t take long for the birdies to start falling. She had four birdies in six holes beginning at the par-four No. 13.
Lewis’ bogey-free round also has her sitting in a good position heading into the weekend. She is seeking her first win since 2014.
Wie is one stroke back of Ariya and Lewis as the American started her day on the front nine and had a hot putter. She posted six birdies before dropping a shot with a bogey on the par four, 13th to card a five-under 67.
The cut line of five under par was the lowest in LPGA history.
Katie Burnett, who also was tied for the lead after the first round, shot 70 and is among those three shots back at 134. — Agencies
