Justin Thomas sets PGA Tour’s 36-hole scoring record at Sony Open

Justin Thomas finished with another eagle and got into the PGA Tour record book again.

Thomas holed an eight-foot putt on the par-five 18th for a 64 to set the 36-hole scoring record at 123. He also had a five-shot lead over Gary Woodland going into the weekend, when the focus shifts from records to a trophy.

Coming off a 59, Thomas started slowly until running off four straight birdies around the turn. He bogeyed the 17th hole from the bunker, then hit out of the rough to 8 feet on the last hole to atone for it.

Woodland had a second straight 64 and was at 12-under 128.

Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose (64) and Zach Johnson (61) were in the group seven shots back.

McIlroy stays in contention at SA Open

Rory McIlroy stayed close to the leaders at the SA Open on Friday despite hurting his back. The second-ranked Northern Irishman made five birdies on the first six holes of the back nine but bogeyed the final two to finish with a 68 and in a five-way tie for fifth after two rounds.

Graeme Storm jumped into a two-stroke lead at the top of the leaderboard after shooting a course record nine-under 63 at the Glendower Golf Club.

Storm had nine biridies and leads Peter Uihlein (64), overnight leader Trevor Fisher Jr. (68) and Jbe Kruger (67) by two.

Austin leads Diamond Resorts Invitational

Woody Austin shot a 12-under 59 on Friday in the Diamond Resorts Invitational, scoring 43 points in the modified Stableford event for PGA Tour Champions, LPGA Tour and celebrity players.

The 52-year-old Austin closed with a three-foot par putt in pouring rain. He holed a 47-yard pitch for eagle on the par-five ninth and had 10 birdies on the Four Seasons Resort’s 6,626-yard Tranquilo Golf Club course. He earned six points for the eagle and three for each birdie.

Kevin Sutherland shot the only 59 in official PGA Tour Champions play, accomplishing the feat in the 2014 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.

Joe Durant was second in the pro competition with 34 points. Lexi Thompson was tied for 13th with 26 points to top the four LPGA Tour players in the field.

Former pitcher Mark Mulder led the celebrity field with 26 points. Former third baseman Troy Glaus was a point back, and Atlanta Braves executive John Hart was third with 23.

The women are playing from the same tees as the seniors in the $750,000 professional competition. The celebrities are playing for $500,000.