Kurt Kitayama (1st/-9) has his third 36-hole lead/co-lead of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, breaking a tie with Max Homa and Andrew Putnam for most of any player (first two: THE CJ CUP in South Carolina/finished 2nd, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am/T29).
He is the first player to record a 68 or better in each of the first two rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational since Keegan Bradley in 2019; is making his 50th career PGA TOUR start and tournament debut.
Related: Birdie spree powers Jon Rahm’s rise at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Is a three-time runner-up on TOUR (T2/2022 Mexico Open at Vidanta, 2nd/2022 Genesis Scottish Open, 2nd/2022 CJ CUP in South Carolina).
View this post on Instagram
Jordan Spieth (2nd/-7) is in the top two after 36 holes since the 2022 BMW Championship (T2).
Has one top-10 in six starts this season (T6/WM Phoenix Open) and is a 13-time PGA TOUR winner (most recent: 2022 RBC Heritage).
Ludvig Aberg (A) (T9/-4) has the highest 36-hole position by an amateur in a PGA TOUR event since Chris Gotterup at the 2022 Puerto Rico Open (T6).
View this post on Instagram
First amateur to make the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational since Viktor Hovland in 2019.
The last amateur to finish in the top 10 of a TOUR event was Michael Thorbjornsen, 2022 Travelers Championship (4th).
The last amateur to win a TOUR event was Phil Mickelson, 1991 Northern Telecom Open.
Second time in the top 10 after 36 holes on TOUR (T10 after the second round of the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship; finished T51 in TOUR debut).
Fourth career PGA TOUR start and first since the 2022 Valero Texas Open (MC).
Xander Schauffele (T3/-6) is making his second start at the event and first since 2020 (T24).
View this post on Instagram
Matt Fitzpatrick (T5/-5) has finished in the top 10 in each of the last four years at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the longest active streak (second: Chris Kirk/2).
World No. 4 Patrick Cantlay (T5/-5) is making his tournament debut.
Justin Thomas (T5/-5) is making his first start at the Arnold Palmer Invitational since his rookie season (T49/2015).
View this post on Instagram
First-round leader and World No. 1 Jon Rahm (T13/-3) carded a 4-over 76, his highest score since the third round of the 2022 PGA Championship (76/R3); Rahm’s last 76-or-higher in a non-major: 77, 2022 PLAYERS Championship (R4).
Viktor Hovland (T20/-2) made a hole-in-one at No. 7 (183 yards), his fourth career ace on TOUR and first since the 2022 BMW Championship (R4).
