Zach Johnson posted a bogey-free 7-under-par 66 to take a three-stroke lead over defending champion Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar after two rounds of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua.
Johnson, who won two of his last five tournaments in 2013, did it without recording a birdie on any of the par-5 holes.
“Am I surprised? No; it’s only two days, so it’s halfway done for me,” said Johnson, who captured the BMW Championship during the PGA Tour playoffs and beat tournament host Tiger Woods last month in the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge.
“I’m very comfortable as a competitor. One of my goals every year is those par 5s, and I’m a little bitter about that right now. But I’ll get over it.”
Dustin Johnson, who shot 70 in the first round, registered six birdies on the front nine and three on the last five holes, but stumbled with bogeys on the 11th and 13th holes.
Kuchar shot his second consecutive 68 and Spieth, who was tied for the first-round lead with Webb Simpson, Michael Thompson and Chris Kirk, followed his opening 66 with a 70 that included his only bogey in 36 holes at No. 7.
Simpson and Thompson carded 71s and were tied for fifth.
Adam Scott, No. 2 in the World Golf Rankings, managed only a second straight 70 and was alone in 12th place in the first PGA Tour event of 2014.
