2023 American Express leaderboard, scores: Jon Rahm, Tom Kim try to chase down PGA Tour rookie after Round 2
CBSN
Leader Davis Thompson kept his foot on the gas around the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Friday
What a difference a week made for the first-round leader on the PGA Tour. Avoiding the same fate as Jordan Spieth at the Sony Open, Davis Thompson instead kept marching forward at the 2023 American Express. Grabbing the solo lead with a 10-under 62 on Thursday, the PGA Tour rookie was at it again on Friday at the Nicklaus Tournament Course. Stumbling out of the gates ever so slightly to begin his round, Thompson rode a flurry of eagles to ultimately sign for an 8-under 64.
Tying the PGA Tour 36-hole record with five eagles, Thompson stands at 18 under but is not without a litany of heavy hitters right on his tail. Jon Rahm, the 2023 Tournament of Champions winner and arguably the hottest player in the world, will enter the weekend as Thompson's closest pursuer at 16 under after back-to-back rounds of 8-under 64.
The winner of this tournament in 2018, Rahm has positioned himself nicely to win his second PGA Tour event of the year and capture his fourth worldwide victory in his last six starts. On the same course rotation as the leader, Rahm, along with other contenders Tom Kim, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, will play the Stadium Course at PGA West on Saturday.
