Russell Henley fired a four-under par 66 on Friday to take care of his one-stroke lead within the Wyndham Championship as Justin Thomas boosted his bid to make the US PGA Tour playoffs.

Henley couldn’t match the fireworks of his first-round 62 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina.

But his 5 birdies and one bogey gave him a 12-under par complete of 128, one away from Billy Horschel - who signed for a 62 of his personal for 129.

“I would say just off the tee didn’t quite get it in the fairway quite as much,” Henley stated of the distinction in his rounds thus far this week, including that the again 9 performed “a little bit more difficult” in drizzly situations and a modified wind.

Henley, who ended a five-year title drought along with his fourth tour victory at Mayakoba, Mexico, in November, stated his plan for the weekend can be to “continue the same things: Just committing to my lines, committing to what I decide to hit off the tee and just making the best swing that I can.”

One factor he gained’t do is get forward of himself. He was chasing a wire-to-wire victory at Sedgefield in 2021 when a birdie on the tenth gap on Sunday had him feeling “in control of the tournament”.

Instead he missed the six-man playoff gained by Kevin Kisner.

“It’s why I’ve got to play all 72 holes,” Henley stated. “It’s just hard to do, hard to finish it off, but I’m excited hopefully for another good weekend.”

Horschel squeezed previous a quartet of gamers sharing third on 10-under 130 with a spherical that included an eagle on the eighth and 7 birdies.

Horschel, hoping to salvage a disappointing season, stated his sport has been enhancing in latest weeks.

“There’s been a lot of positive stuff coming, a lot more confidence in my ability to strike the golf ball, which has been the biggest issue all year,” he stated.

But at 116th within the FedEx Cup playoff standings, Horschel had a mountain to climb to attempt to push his manner into the highest 70 that qualify, with this week the final alternative.

“I know I have to win or finish solo second,” he stated. “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

Thomas climbs

Former world primary Justin Thomas, who can also be attempting to muscle his manner into the playoffs from 79th within the standings, went the appropriate path with a five-under par 65 that put him at five-under 135 heading into the weekend.

Australian veteran Adam Scott, 81st within the standings, went the flawed manner with a one-over 71 that left him eight off the tempo.

Well forward of them, the group at 10-under featured South Korean An Byeong-hun, Canadian Adam Svensson and Americans Lucas Glover and Brendon Todd.

Todd had eight birdies in his seven-under 63, Glover posted a 64, Svensson carded a 67 and An - coming off a bogey-free 63 - had two eagles and a double-bogey in his 67.

“Two eagles, still four shots worse than yesterday,” An stated. “Today was a little disappointing.”

Some of the sting was relieved by a 66-foot eagle putt on the fifteenth, his sixth gap of the day, and a gap out for eagle from 94 yards out within the fairway at his closing gap, the par-four ninth.