Big names miss the cut as Rory stays in the hunt
Thomas stretches lead to five strokes in Sony Open
over the 6,942-metre parkland course.
Four-time major champion Els of South Africa added a 70 to his opening 74 for a 144 total, missing a chance to play the final two rounds by just one shot.
Disatrous start
(7,100yard)
Compatriot Goosen, twice a major title-holder, recovered from a disastrous eight-over 80 Thursday to card a 71, but the damage had been done in the opening round.
Faldo, returning to the European Tour at the age of 59, was unable to replicate his excellent two-under 70 start, and a 75 meant he missed the cut by two shots.
A double-bogey six at the fifth, sandwiched between two bogeys, proved costly for the winner of six majors, who combines playing golf with commentating on it.
Storm led by two shots from South Africans Trevor Fisher junior and Jbe Kruger and American Peter Uihlein. McIlroy, who has won every major bar the US Masters, is among five contenders a further stroke back.
Justin Thomas closed with an eagle for the second straight day (USA unless noted) 123 — Justin Thomas 59-64 128 — Gary Woodland 64-64 130 — Hudson Swafford 62-68, Justin Rose (ENG) 66-64, Zach Johnson 69-61 131 — Webb Simpson 66-65, Charles Howell 65-66, Luke List 67-64, Satoshi Kodaira (JPN) 65-66, Russell Henley 64-67, Russell Knox (SCO) 64-67, Tony Finau 64-67 132 — Jamie Lovemark 64-68, Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 63-69, Scott Piercy 66-66, Miguel Tabuena (PHI), Henrik Norlander (SWE), Y.E. Yang (KOR) 67-65, Daniel Berger 65-67, Jordan Spieth 65-67, Hideto Tanihara (JPN) 67-65, Cameron Smith (AUS) 64-68 as he followed rare 59 with a second-round 64 to extend his lead to five shots at the halfway stage of the Sony Open in Los Angeles.
Thomas didn’t let up on Friday after becoming the seventh and youngest player in USPGA Tour history to shoot a 59.
He rolled in an eight-foot put on the 18th at Waialae in Honolulu, Hawaii, to get into the history books again by recording the tour’s record for lowest 36hole total of 123.
“It’s cool,” Thomas said. “Just like yesterday, anytime you can get your name in the record books is awesome.”