For a third consecutive Charles Schwab Challenge, an 18-hole leader/co-leader also leads/co-leads after 36 holes (Beau Hossler, Scottie Scheffler/2022; Jordan Spieth/2021; Harold Varner III/2020).
World No. 1 and FedExCup leader Scheffler posted a second consecutive bogey-free round, carding a 5-under 65 Friday to retain a share of the lead; he is the only player in the field without a bogey.
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Making his 10th start and playing his 26th round at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Scott Stallings carded a bogey-free 6-under 64, his lowest score at the event and tied Danny Lee for the low round of the day.
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Co-leaders are 1-2-3 in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green this week (Hossler/1st; Stallings/2nd; Scheffler/3rd).
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Three of the top four players on the leaderboard have less than three bogeys through 36 holes: Scheffler (T1/zero), Hossler (T1/two), Patrick Reed (4th/two).
Outside Majors, only the 2021 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP (-8) and 2022 PLAYERS Championship (-7) had higher 36-hole leads on PGA TOUR this season.
Seventh over-par cut this season, and the first outside a Major championship since THE PLAYERS (+2).
Spieth carded a bogey-free 4-under 66 with opening birdies at Nos. 10 and 11, a birdie at No. 14 for the second consecutive day, followed by 12 consecutive pars and a closing birdie at No. 9. He stands T12.
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In his 12th start at.the event, 2015 Charles Schwab Challenge winner Chris Kirk posted a 3-under 67 to open the event with back-to-back sub-par rounds for the first time since his 2015 win (68-69).
At solo-fourth, Reed is inside the top five for the second time since in his last four starts (T3 through 36 holes at Mexico Open at Vidanta, finished T42).
Justin Thomas, winner of last week’s PGA Championship, played Nos. 7-10 at 6-over par Friday, including a triple bogey at the par-4 ninth, ending the longest active streak of made cuts on TOUR at 21, dating to the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge.
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Jon Rahm now has the longest active streak with 11 consecutive made cuts.
Defending champion Jason Kokrak slipped to T51 following a 1-over 71 in the second round. Ben Hogan (1946-47, 1952-53) is the only player to successfully defend a Charles Schwab Challenge title.
