Pat Perez is enjoying a career renaissance at the age of 41.
Perez, from San Diego, shot 7-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Xander Schauffele in the CIMB Classic after the second round, which was delayed for four hours by rain on the West Course at TPC Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Perez collected six birdies on his last eight holes while finishing on the back nine.
“I don’t want sunshine at all,” said Perez, who came back from shoulder surgery last season to earn his second PGA Tour victory in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. “It’s too hot, way too hot. I like it just the way it is right now, perfect. Cloudy, no wind.
“I didn’t think I really played that well. I got off to a slow start, I was 1 over through four. We had the break, and … I like the front (nine), I play better on the front.”
Perez. Who was playing on a major medical extension when he won at Mayakoba to reclaim his PGA Tour card, has a 36-hole total of 13-under 131.
The 23-year-old Schauffele, also from San Diego and Rookie of the Year last season after winning the Tour Championship, eagled the third hole and had three birdies on the back nine in a 67.
First-round leader Cameron Smith of Australia shot 71 and is four shots behind in a tie for third with Thomas Pieters of Belgium, who had a 67, and Sung Kang of South Korea, who finished at 68.
Keegan Bradley carded a 71 and is another stroke back in sixth, followed by Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain, whose 70 left him six down in solo seventh.
Brendan Steele of Idyllwild and UC Riverside, who won the Safeway Open last week, recorded a 71 and is seven shots behind in a tie for eighth with Hideki Matsuyama (68) of Japan, Kyle Stanley (67), Adam Hadwin (67) of Canada, Lucas Glover (67), Michael Kim (70) and Danny Lee (65) of New Zealand.
Justin Thomas, the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year, shot 71 and is tied for 33rd.
