Kuchar Shoots 64 for Lead in Humana Challenge; Palmer Fires 61


Matt Kuchar followed up his opening 65 with a 64 to take the halfway lead in the Humana Challenge. The $5.7 million PGA Tour event, played on three courses in California's Coachella Valley - the Arnold Private at PGA West (the host course and site of Sunday's final round), Jack Nicklaus Private at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club - got underway Thursday.

Kuchar shot his 65 at La Quinta and had the 64 at Nicklaus Private to reach 15-under 129, a stroke ahead of first-round leader Michael Putnam (67 on Palmer Private) and 2010 champion Bill Haas (63 at La Quinta).

The 36-year-old Kuchar began play Friday on the 10th tee. He went out with five birdies to make the turn in 5-under 31, then came home with two birdies, an eagle on the par-5 fourth (his 13th hole) and a bogey.

Trailing by two in the annual birdie-fest are Nick Watney (64), Justin Thomas (63) and Scott Pinkney (67), who all played Nicklaus.

Tied for seventh at 12-under 132 are Erik Compton (66) and Steve Wheatcroft (67) at La Quinta, and Alex Cejka (64) and Ryan Palmer (61) at Nicklaus.

Palmer began play on the 10th hole. After two pars to open his round, the 38-year-old Texan got downright torrid, carding five birdies and two eagles to make the turn in 9-under 27. After adding another birdie on the 10th, the three-time Tour winner was 10-under par and in position to shoot a magical 59 - if not lower.

But he carded two straight bogeys on his 11th and 12th holes before coming home with three more birdies for an 11-under 61. The tournament's all-time record is a 59 carded by David Duval, who did that in 1999 in the final round and won by a stroke over Steve Pate when the event was 90 holes and called the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Sharing 11th at 133 are Canada's Nick Taylor (67) and Martin Flores (65) both at La Quinta, and Jason Kokrak (68 at Palmer).

After getting to good starts with 64s and only a stroke behind Putnam starting play, Italy's Francesco Molinari and Americans Blake Adams, 2012 winner Mark Wilson and John Peterson all slipped down the leaderboard. Molinari had a 71 and Adams a 79 at La Quinta; while Wilson had a 73 and Peterson a 70 at Palmer.

Peterson is tied for 14th at 10-under with a big group that includes former winners Pat Perez (2009) and Charley Hoffman (2007).

Defending champion Patrick Reed posted a 70 at Nicklaus and, after starting with a 65, stands at 9-under 135 heading into the weekend.

Two-time champion Phil Mickelson, making his 2015 debut, followed up his opening 71 at La Quinta with a 66 at Nicklaus and is at 137, eight behind fellow 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup teammate Kuchar.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.