Justin Thomas followed his opening-round 61 with a 2-under-par 69 on Friday to maintthe lead through 36 holes at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Thomas' steady round featured four birdies and two bogeys, pushing him to 12-under 130 for the event after he tied the Harbour Town Golf Links course record Thursday. The two-time major champion is seeking his first victory of any kind since the 2022 PGA Championship.
Thomas said he likes the narrow, tree-lined test Harbour Town presents.
"I don't think I've necessarily had as much success here, as if you want to call them birdie fests or whatever it may be," he said. "... I understand (Thursday) is a bit of a one-off, but I truly do feel like every time I tee it up at a place like this or Colonial, I can – when I've played it, I can make a bunch of birdies. Sawgrass, I feel the same way. If you get it in play, you can make so many birdies."
Si Woo Kim of South Korea fired the round of the day, a 7-under 64, to leap into a share of second place at 10 under with Russell Henley (68).
Kim stuck his second shot at the par-5 fifth hole to 5 feet and converted the eagle putt; he was 8 under through his first 12 holes but cooled off, making his only bogey at the par-3 14th.
Kim missed out on an invitation to the Masters last week, his first time not playing at Augusta National since 2016.
"I got so much frustrated last week watching Masters, but somehow I got to move on. So I'm just trying to focus this week," Kim said.
Andrew Novak (65) and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (66) are tied for fourth at 9 under. Scottie Scheffler settled for a 1-under 70, including all pars on the back nine, and is tied for sixth at 8 under with Canadian Mackenzie Hughes (66).
"I thought the golf course was tougher today," Scheffler said. "I felt like the fairways I hit it in, the pins were hard to get to, and the fairways that I missed, it was kind of the gettable pins is what I felt like at times out there. The back nine, I felt like it was hard to get it close to some of those pins."
Major winners Collin Morikawa (66), Brian Harman (69) and Wyndham Clark (70) are part of a five-way tie at 7 under.
There is no 36-hole cut at the $20 million signature event. Among those struggling near the back of the 72-man field are Max Homa (even par), Sahith Theegala (1 over), Will Zalatoris (3 over), Canada's Adam Hadwin (4 over) and Nick Dunlap (7 over). Theegala was the runner-up to Scheffler at this tournament last year.
For now, everyone is chasing Thomas, who heaped praise on his new temporary caddie, Joe Greiner. Thomas' regular caddie, Matt Minister, is sidelined with a back injury.
"We've had a lot of fun," Thomas said. "I ... have always thought caddies are in a tough spot already and kind of like a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation, let alone when it's the second week he's ever caddied for me.
"He knows I'm playing well, and he knows that I feel the same way. So he's wanting to help but also trying to not over caddie, and it's tough. But he's doing a great job."