Eagle brace lifts Wise into PGA Honda Classic lead

Aaron Wise seized a three-stroke lead after the second round of the US PGA Tour Honda Classic.

MIAMI (AFP) - American Aaron Wise fired his second straight six-under par 64 on Friday to seize a three-stroke lead after the second round of the US PGA Tour Honda Classic.

The 24-year-old South African-born US golfer made two eagles, five birdies and three bogeys to stand on 12-under 128 after 36 holes at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

"Playing great," Wise said. "Off the tee, I ve hit it pretty solid and my iron play has been dialed in. I ve made so many bonus putts from outside 10 feet I can t complain."

The 64s allowed Wise to match his career-low 36-hole start, set on his way to his only US PGA win at the 2018 Byron Nelson, and match the low 36-hole start in tournament history, set by Dan Pohl in 1989.

"They were different rounds but equally impressive in my eyes," Wise said. "Today I had a couple sparks in there. Yesterday was consistently good golf."

Australia s Matt Jones, who opened by matching the course record on 61, settled for a 70 Friday to share second on 131 with American Brandon Hagy, who shot a bogey-free 62 before about 10,000 spectators allowed under state Covid-19 rules.

"It wasn t like I hit it that much worse. I just didn t make the putts," Jones said. "Overall, I m satisfied with it. I think it could have been a little better. I m comfortable with where I am. Another 36 holes out here, it should be fun."

Wise, a runner-up last December at Mayakoba, has a confidence boost for the weekend.

"There s a lot of golf ahead," Wise said. "The most important thing I can take from the first two rounds is a bunch of confidence and let whatever is going to happen happen."

Wise began on the back nine and sank a 24-foot birdie putt on his opening hole. He saved par from just outside six feet at 12 and birdied 13 from just inside the same distance, then answered a bogey at 16 with a 14-foot birdie putt at the par-3 17th.

World number 152 Wise dropped his 7-iron second shot just outside three feet from the cup and eagled the par-5 18th, then answered a bogey at the second by holing a 46-foot eagle putt at the par-5 third.

"This one was just a bonus," Wise said. "It was a good one."

He closed out the round with a 14-foot birdie putt at the ninth.

"It has all kind of clicked into place," Wise said. "I had two amazing days where I didn t do anything bad."

World number 348 Hagy, who made the field as an alternate without playing a practice round, holed 20-foot birdie putts at 13 and 17 and a 47-foot eagle putt at 18, his ninth hole of the day, then added back-to-back birdies at three and four and again to close the round.

"Very pleased with the round," Hagy said. "I feel like I m playing a little bit on house money. I just tried to have a good feeling on every shot. I m thankful for the opportunity."

England s Lee Westwood, runner-up in PGA Tour events the past two weeks, fired a 78 and missed the cut on 148.

Irishman Shane Lowry, the 2019 British Open champion, shot 66 to stand in a fifth-place pack on 133.

Colombia s Camilo Villegas, the 2010 winner, shot 65 to stand six adrift. The South American needs a three-way share of third or better to keep a major medical exemption for the remainder of the season after a shoulder injury while a top-30 effort gives him a limited number of starts.

American Wesley Bryan peeled off his trousers and shoes to play out of a water hazard, but went on to shoot 78 and missed the cut on 152.