Jordan Spieth eases into the lead at Hyundai Tournament of Champions

If there were any doubts as to whether Jordan Spieth could build on his magical 2015 campaign they are being quickly dispelled as the world number one moved four shots clear after the second round of the Tournament of Champions at The Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

Jordan Spieth can’t help but smile as the ball drops on its final turn for a birdie on No. 18.

Spieth is well positioned for his seventh US PGA Tour title which would equal the total that Tiger Woods achieved before turning 23. And Spieth is in the lead.

He cautioned, however, that with only 36 holes played in the elite event for last season’s winners there was “a long way to go”.

He went on to make three birdies in a row from the 13th and finished in style when his 13-foot birdie putt at 18 hung theatrically on the lip for a fraction of a second before dropping into the cup.

Spieth said before the tournament that he hoped 2016 would prove a continuation of a stellar 2015 campaign that saw him grab two major titles among his five wins and add a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship and fourth-place at the British Open as well. He was one shot back before Spieth holed a 46-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole and played the last eight holes in five-under. “That’s pretty low”, Spieth said on Friday. He remains bogey-free through 54 holes.

He hit driver again on the 14th, narrowly clearly a bunker and leaving a pitch just short of the green to 3 feet.

Reed (69) is joined on 12 under by fellow American Kevin Kisner (65) and Argentina’s Fabian Gomez (66). “We should have some good conditions so I have to go out and make some birdies”.

He hit a flop over the sand to 7 feet and missed the par putt. Els had a three-shot lead when he set the record at Kapalua at 17 under.

“First tournament of the year, kind of rusty, haven’t played in a while”, Kisner said.

Danny Lee’s promising start to 2016 took a slight setback on Sunday (NZ time) as he slid down the leaderboard at the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. “Seeing where my game is, I’m looking forward to having a chance on the weekend”.

Fowler had six birdies in a 67 that took him to 10-under and Watson is in a group a shot further back after a 68.