Justin Thomas leads THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES after second-round 63
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JEJU, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 17: Justin Thomas of the United States hits his tee shot on the 3rd hole during the first round of the CJ Cup @Nine Bridges at the Club at Nine Bridges on October 17, 2019 in Jeju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea (AP) -- Justin Thomas shot a 9-under 63 Friday to take a two-stroke lead at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, putting himself in position to win his second PGA TOUR event in South Korea in three years.
Thomas, who won the inaugural CJ CUP in 2017, had a two-round total of 13-under 131.
South Korean-born New Zealander Danny Lee (66) was in a tie for second place with first-round leader Byeong Hun An, who shot 69 in front of his home fans.
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Jordan Spieth (65) and Emiliano Grillo (66) were tied for fourth, four strokes behind.
Thomas birdied his first four holes and was 6-under after 10 holes.
"Overall one of the better rounds in a while," Thomas said. "It came pretty easy, for the most part. I never had to worry much out there."
After a 66 on Thursday, Jason Day bogeyed four of his last six holes Friday for a 73 and was eight strokes behind.
Last year's runner-up Gary Woodland had a second straight 71 and was 11 behind at 2-under with Phil Mickelson, who shot 72. Defending champion Brooks Koepka had four bogeys on his first nine for a 75 and was 13 strokes behind.
Mickelson had the shot of the day, hitting a 353-yard tee shot which hit the flag on the par-4 14th, stopping 8 inches from the cup. That set up a tap-in eagle.
There are 78 players in the no-cut, limited-field event. It's the first of three PGA TOUR events in Asia, continuing next week at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in Japan which includes Tiger Woods, and ending with a World Golf Championships event in Shanghai.