Like Shinkansen, the famed Japanese bullet train, Seamus Power, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler raced up the leaderboard on Friday at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in the Japanese prefecture of Chiba, 25 miles northeast of Tokyo.
Power, who is making his first start at the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship and first trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, shot 8-under 62, the low round of the tournament.
“When you shoot 62 most things go your way,” Power said. “It was interesting because it was kind of an unusual start. I ended up having to make a good par save on 1, 2 and 3.”
Then he rattled off four straight birdies in a row, including a chip in from 58 feet at the fifth. Overcast conditions and lighter wind than forecasted had the greens soft as a baby’s bottom. Power took advantage, leading the field in driving accuracy and having the best putting performance in the second round. Fowler and Thomas appear to have or to be getting their mojo back and both carded 6-under 64.
Despite going low, they’re still chasing Mexico’s Nico Echavarria, who signed for his second straight 64 and leads Taylor Moore, his college teammate at Arkansas, and Thomas by two strokes.
In case you didn’t stay up late to watch, here are five things to know about the second round of the Zozo Championship.