• Tournament of Champions, Round Two

Stricker surges five shots clear after stellar 63

Steve Stricker hit top form on day two © PA Photos

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Steve Stricker produced a stunning second round of 63 to give himself a five-shot lead at the halfway point of the PGA Tour's season-opening Tournament of Champions.

After a solid opening 68, the American followed up with an even more fluent performance, draining eight birdies and an eagle en route to a bogey-free 10-under 63, which leaves him five strokes clear of compatriot Webb Simpson in second place.

"It was a special day," Stricker said. "When you can shoot 10 under, a lot of good things have to happen. I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I made a lot of putts. I just played consistent, really never got into any trouble.

"It was just a good, solid round of golf. We're only halfway, through, so I've got still a lot of work left to do - I realise that. So I've just got to come out tomorrow with the same mentality that I've had every other day, and that's just to take one shot at a time and keep plugging away."

When asked whether Ernie Els' 2003 tournament record of 31-under-par was in his thoughts, he said: "It doesn't enter my mind, and I really hate putting numbers on anything.

"I just go out and take what it gives me, really, if I'm feeling good, if I'm aggressive and can take advantage of some holes out there. But I really just get into the situation at hand and go from there, and that's what I did well today. I ran with it. I felt good. I started making some birdies and I was patient when I wasn't making some."

Simpson is well in contention after a second successive 68, with a sole bogey at the par-three eighth the only blot on an otherwise impressive-looking scorecard.

A breathtaking eagle-eagle finish from Kevin Na put the American firmly in the hunt on Saturday. Na, having started with a level par round of 73, looked to be on course for a significantly better second round at Kapalua - as he reached the final two holes five-under for the tournament after stringing together a great run of birdies.

But even better was still to come, as Na eagled the par-four 17th before making a brilliant three at the par-five last - leapfrogging him to nine-under for the tournament.

US PGA champion Keegan Bradley has a lot of ground to make up if he is to challenge for the title after a one-under 72 left him 10 strokes adrift of the leader. Aaron Baddeley showed his recovery skills as he clawed his way back into contention after a second round 68.

Baddeley, looking to bounce back from an untidy 75 in the first round, could only manage to find eight fairways all day yet still found 15 greens in regulation, as he made six birdies and just one bogey on the way to a five-under par round - one that put him three-under for the tournament.

That put him on level terms with Bubba Watson, Scott Stallings and Harrison Frazar - who all returned second round 69s. Rory Sabbatini is also three-under, after carding a 70. The ever-controversial South African's score would have been better, however, if he had not been late for his tee-time - earning himself an automatic two-shot penalty.

American Chris Kirk fared even better than Baddeley, however, as an eagle three at the fifth set him on the way to a score of 66, enough to put him at seven-under for the tournament.

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