Charley Hoffman and Rico Hoey shot a pair of 63s to take the halfway lead at The American Express at La Quinta Country Club in California.
Hoffman birdied five of his last seven holes on the Nicklaus Tournament course – one of three being used for the event – with Hoey carding eight birdies in 10 holes from the fourth on the same layout.
Hoffman, who included two eagles in his round, is chasing a first PGA Tour win since 2016 after being dogged with back trouble in recent years.
“Three years ago I wasn’t very healthy, and I wasn’t a very good golfer,” Hoffman said.
“I feel good right at this second. As I say, in the morning I could wake up and feel completely different.
“When I’m healthy, the weather’s warm, I feel like I can beat anybody in the world. When it’s cold and my back’s not feeling good, I don’t think I can beat anybody in the world.”
Hoey added: “For me this is my second year on tour, so I’m still kind of starstruck with a lot of those guys, Hoffman, Cantlay, Rickie and whatnot.
“For me it’s really cool just to put my name out there and just keeping up with them, so that’s all I’m trying to do.”
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The pair top the leaderboard on 16 under par, one clear of Austria’s Sepp Straka, American Mark Hubbard – who both had 64s on the Pete Dye Stadium course – and compatriot Justin Lower.
Australia’s Jason Day and American JJ Spaun are a shot further back, followed by a group on 13 under par which includes Nick Taylor, winner of The Sony Open last week, and Rickie Fowler who carded a 62 at the Nicklaus course.
Watch the third round from The American Express live on Sky Sports Golf at 7pm on Saturday. Stream PGA Tour, majors and more with NOW
