ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Equipped with his first PGA Tour lead in 67 starts, Morgan Hoffmann played Friday like he wanted to keep it a little longer in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Hoffmann made nine birdies for a 7-under 65 and had a three-shot lead over Henrik Stenson, Harris English and defending champion Matt Every going into the weekend at Bay Hill.
Every, Stenson and English each shot a 66.
Rory McIlroy finally got into the picture by making five straight birdies in his round of 66. He was five shots behind after his first sub-70 score in three PGA Tour events this year.
Hoffmann was at 13-under 131, one short of the 36-hole record at Bay Hill. The cut was 142, matching the lowest score to make the cut in Bay Hill history.