Justin Thomas was comparable to the TPC Sawgrass course record with a stunning 10-under par 62 in the Florida Player Championship, while Rory McIlroy was only two shots from the lead in the middle stage.
It represents an incredible shift from Thomas. Thomas began to be in serious danger of missing a cut on Friday, with a 6-over 78 card in his opening round.
The 31-year-old American coincides with the course record set by Tom Hoge in 2023, becoming the first player to register 11 birdies in one round at the PGA Tour flagship event.
Thomas’ 16-stroke improvements were the biggest in the history of the event from the first to the second round, lifting 104 places on the leaderboard.
Despite finding water on the second shot on the 18th, the unfortunate bogey was to finish, but the only two-time US PGA champions were co-leaders Min Wooly and Akshay Batia’s seven-shot drift.
“Crazy is an understatement. It’s wild. I’m really proud of myself,” Thomas told Sky Sports.
“The score is great, but just [as good] It comes out of attitude and mentality. The position I put on myself had to do something crazy just to make the cut. ”
Thomas’ epic performance sets an interesting weekend with live commentary and coverage of Saturday’s third round and Sunday’s finale on the BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
Australia’s Lee, 26, and 23-year-old American Batia signed 66 rounds to sit in 11th place, under one shot, ahead of JJ Spaun.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy has been in touch under nine of his two shotbacks, recording a 4-under 68.
It was the second lowest 36-hole score in the world number two at TPC Sawgrass.
Morikawa’s 65 is also comparable to his lowest round on the stadium course, and England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who hasn’t won the PGA Tour yet, is also suitable for the 7 after having a 66 card.
World’s No. 1 Scotty Schauferle, who played with McIlroy and Schauferer in the marquee group, finished one by birding the last hole of the day.
This led the US PGA and Open Champions to extend their proud run of 59 consecutive cuts, the longest since Tiger Woods’ 142 stretches from 1998 to 2005.
