LA QUINTA, January 21, 2012 (AFP) - Mark Wilson fired a 10-under par 62 on Friday to join Ben Crane and David Toms atop the leaderboard after two rounds at the US PGA Tour's Humana Challenge, where low scores tumbled in.
Wilson had eight birdies and an eagle in a flawless round at the Palmer Private course, one of three par-72 layouts in use for the $5.6 million event.
Crane carded a 63 on the Palmer course and Toms shot a 65 on the Nicklaus Private course as the leaders finished 36 holes on 16-under 128.
They were three shots ahead of Colombia's Camilo Villegas, Harris English, Chris Kirk and Bobby Gates, who shared fourth on 131.
English also posted a 62, with his round coming on the Nicklaus layout. Villegas carded a 68 while Kirk and Gates both shot 63.
Wilson admitted that when he eagled the par-five 11th to get to eight-under for the day, the thought of reaching golf's magic number of 59 crossed his mind.
"I don't know why the conversation went there ... but I thought about it," said Wilson, who made two more birdies on the way home, the last of which came when he sank an eight-foot putt at the last for his share of the lead.
Low scores are nothing new for this tournament, formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic. The Nicklaus and Palmer courses at the PGA West resort ranked as two of the three least difficult layouts on the US tour last season.
David Duval fired a 59 on the Palmer course 13 years ago with four 61s being recorded in 2009 and there have been 14 rounds of 62 in the past four years.
Ryan Moore tied the Nicklaus record with a 61, and still found himself five shots adrift.
Moore's round, despite back-to-back bogeys at his second and third holes, matched South Korean Charlie Wi's score on the Nicklaus, set in 2009.
"Really the last thing I remember was being two-over through three, and then I just walked off the 18th hole," Moore said.
"Maybe that just freed me up. I just let go. ... I don't know if I ever putted that good in my entire life."
While Moore had to make up some ground, 23 players completed rounds without a bogey.
"Everything has been much improved, and we got a much better field because of it," Crane said to changes in the tournament in the California desert east of Los Angeles, which used to be a five-round event. "This is a great place for players to start their year, because it's like playing indoors."
Crane said the conditions were so good that he and his caddie could not determine where the wind was coming from.
"I'm like, 'Where's the wind?'" Crane said. "He's like, 'I don't know.' I'm like, 'OK, let's just hit a normal shot here.'"
World number eight Dustin Johnson, however, couldn't take advantage. He withdrew after the first nine holes of his second round complaining of back pain.
Johnson, the highest-ranked player in the field, carded a 72 on Thursday, the first time he had walked 18 holes since arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in November.
Johnson said he expected to return at Torrey Pines next week.
Leading second-round scores here on Friday in the US PGA Tour $5.6 million Humana Challenge on the Arnold Palmer Private Course and Jack Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club (USA unless noted, all par-72):
128 - Ben Crane 65-63, David Toms 63-65, Mark Wilson 66-62
131 - Camilo Villegas (COL) 63-68, Harris English 69-62, Chris Kirk 68-63, Bobby Gates 68-63
132 - Cameron Tringale 68-64, Chris DiMarco 68-64, Ken Duke 67-65, Tommy Biershenk 68-64, Brandt Snedeker 64-68, John Mallinger 67-65
133 - Kevin Chappell 65-68, Zach Johnson 68-65, Brendon Todd 66-67, Bud Cauley 66-67, Steve Marino 65-68, Stephen Ames (CAN) 66-67, John Senden (AUS) 69-64, Bae Sang-moon Bae (KOR) 64-69, Ryan Moore 72-61
134 - Kevin Na 66-68, Gary Christian (GBR) 66-68, Jeff Maggert 69-65, Pat Perez 67-67, Michael Bradley 67-67, Jason Kokrak 68-66, Bob Estes 64-70, Jason Dufner 71-63