Blixt keeps De Jonge company

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Jonas Blixt carded a second 64 to claim a share of the lead at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Jonas Blixt carded a second successive seven-under-par 64 on Friday to claim a share of the lead at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.

The Swede mixed up an eagle on the par-four seventh hole with birdies at Nos 15, 16 and 18 and a double bogey at the par-three 17th to move to 14-under for the tournament alongside Brendon de Jonge.

Blixt, who missed two months of the season with a rib injury, admits things are going well on and off the golf course at the moment.

“It’s a lot of things that makes me play well this week,” said Blixt.

“I got my family in town, my brother and my sister, a couple friends from overseas, which makes it really relaxed. We’re renting a house together and just having a good time. I don’t think about golf at all coming off the golf course. Just hang out with them. It’s easy to think about something else when you’re in Las Vegas, right?”

He added: “I’ve been working a lot on my ball-striking the last few weeks when I’ve been off. It’s not really there yet, but I got a hot putter and it’s been helping me out a lot the last two days.”

Zimbabwean De Jonge, who started the day one shot behind first-round leader Ryan Moore, followed up his opening 62 with a 66 to join Blixt at the top.

Moore finds himself on 13-under after he carded a solid 68 to go with his course record of 61 on the opening day.

“I’ve been happy just because I’ve been playing Ryan Moore golf,” the 30-year-old said. “I haven’t been trying to do anything too special. I’m not trying to go out and bomb it around the golf course.

“I have a certain way I have to approach this game. I’ve embraced that over the last month, month and a half. Just going out there and giving myself opportunities. I know if I have enough opportunities throughout a round I’m going to put together a pretty good score.

“I think that’s given me some confidence to just go play golf and not try to do anything too special.”

Daniel Summerhays (63) and Tim Herron (68) are two further shots back while John Daly is 10-under after a 63, his lowest score of the year.

Daly’s round, the best for the day with Summerhays, included eight birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.

“Today, I hit the ball really well and I putted good the last two days, which is good for me,” Daly said. “The greens are rolling really good, so it gives you an opportunity. If you make some putts you can play really well. This course gives you a lot more opportunities than most courses.”

Vijay Singh, Nick Watney, Chris Kirk and John Huh are also in the hunt as they are joint sixth with Daly.

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