WGC-Mexico Championship: Dustin Johnson leads by two at halfway
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WGC-Mexico Championship second-round leaderboard |
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-11 D Johnson (US); -9 R McIlroy (NI), M Kuchar (US); -7 S Garcia (Spa), T Fleetwood (Eng); -6 C Smith (Aus), I Poulter (Eng) |
Selected others: -5 T Woods (US), T Hatton (Eng); -2 D Willett (Eng); +1 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), P Casey (Eng) |
Dustin Johnson shot a four-under-par 67 to lead by two strokes at the halfway stage of the WGC-Mexico Championship.
The 34-year-old American, twice a winner of the event, is 11 under par and yet to drop a stroke this week.
Rory McIlroy was four shots clear at one stage but shares second overnight after a four-putt double bogey in a 70.
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood began his round with consecutive eagles and is four off the lead after a 65, while Tiger Woods is five under after a 66.
McIlroy opened with consecutive birdies and also picked up a shot at the fourth, but the sixth hole cost him a shot for the second day running - and four putts from the edge of the ninth green meant he relinquished the lead.
"These greens, with a bit of traffic on them, get a little crusty and it's hard to trust your lines, but I'm still in a good position," said the Northern Irishman, who is level with American Matt Kuchar.
England's Ian Poulter opened with a double bogey at the 10th but seven birdies helped him to a second successive 68 and a share of sixth.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who opened with a 79 that left him only one place from the bottom of the leaderboard, birdied the first three holes of his second round and returned a 65 to move up to two over.
World number nine Rickie Fowler had a remarkable round, which began at the 10th with a shank out of bounds with his second shot. He then dropped from shoulder height, contravening new laws brought in at the start of the year, and was penalised a shot, resulting in a triple bogey.
The 30-year-old had two double bogeys but also made six birdies in a 73 for a two-over halfway total.