Vijay Singh, two others share early lead at Sony Open

Brandt Snedeker continued his strong start to 2016 on Friday, firing a five-under par 65 to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Seeking to become the oldest victor in PGA Tour history, the 52-year-old Fijian racked up seven birdies with his cross-handed putting style on the tight, palm tree-lined layout at Waialae Country Club.

Barnes made four straight birdies at the turn and closed with an up-and-down from behind the green on the par-5 18th, while Hoffman holed a 25-foot eagle putt on his final hole at the par-5 ninth to join the early leaders.

Snedeker, who is on 12-under, is closely followed by Kevin Kisner, who is on 11-under and sits by himself in second place on the leaderboard.

Two dozen players were separated by five shots at the halfway point.

British Open champion Zach Johnson (66) was tied for third at 10 under, along with Chez Reavie (63), Luke Donald (65) and Zac Blair (65).

Of course it’s early, but Singh’s position begged the research: Were he to win on Sunday, the 2005 Sony Open champion would surpass Sam Snead as the oldest-ever PGA Tour victor.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington is down in 20th after a score of 66, hitting five birdies marred by a bogey on the first, while Graeme McDowell hit three birdies and three bogeys to leave him on 70 for the round. He’s been in a groove so far this season, finishing third last week at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

It helped to hole some long putts, and Singh knocked in a 50-footer for birdie on his third hole.

“I feel like I’m playing great, so it should be fun”, Snedeker said afterwards as he bids to win an eighth PGA Tour title. “That round could have been a few more bogeys if I’d have let not holing any of the putts get to me, but stayed patient, kept hitting good shots and good way to finish it on 9”. Russell Henley won the 2013 event in his first start as a PGA Tour rookie, breaking the tournament record at 24-under 256…. Having ballooned to an aggregate 19 over par in his last six rounds of 2015, Snedeker has covered his first six this year in a staggering 33-under after hard work with swing coach Butch Harmon in Las Vegas.

“It wasn’t that favorable that I took a month-and-a-half off after it”, Kisner said.

“I just haven’t produced the scores that I want to produce, but I’m always optimistic about my next day, my next round, my next tournament”.

That gave Walters a narrow advantage over six men tied for second at 6-under.