Hodges shoots 64 to expand his 3M Open lead to four strokes

With the FedEx Cup two weeks away, Lee Hodges can breathe easier. Justin Thomas can’t.

Hodges birdied four of his last six holes for a 7-under-par 64 and a four-stroke lead over Tyler Duncan on Friday after almost two rounds of the 3M Open in Blaine, Minn.

A nearly two-hour afternoon weather delay led to play being suspended because of darkness with six players yet to finish — none within 10 shots of the lead.

Hodges, the first-round leader and 74th in the FedEx Cup points race, was at 15-under 127.

The top 70 next week after the Wyndham Championship will advance to the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Hodges was 3 under on the front nine and added a 33-foot birdie putt on No. 13, followed by birdies from 14 feet on No. 14 and 11 feet on No. 17.

Defending champion Tony Finau (66), J.T. Poston (66), Brandt Snedeker (68), and Kevin Streelman (68) were tied at 10-under 132.

A lengthy last-hole putt was not enough to overcome a couple bad holes as Thomas aims to make the playoffs for the eighth straight season.

He birdied four of his last five holes to shoot a shot an even-par 71, leaving him 2 under for the tournament and two strokes short of the projected cut.

Thomas, at No. 75 in the standings, has missed five cuts in his last seven starts.

Looking to stay in strong consideration for the US Ryder Cup team, Thomas has just two top-10 finishes in 14 tournaments since mid-February.

LPGA — Celine Boutier posted a 2-under 69 in the second round of the Evian Championship to move to 7 under overall, giving her a one-shot lead.

Surprise overnight leader Paula Reto dropped down the leaderboard after a 4-over 75 at the tourney in Evian-LesBains, France.

The 29-year-old Boutier, who was two shots back from Reto overnight, is looking to become the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament, which became a major in 2013.

“It’s really great to feel the support from the fans when you play some good shots and some good putts go in,” Boutier said. “This kind of support used to put me under pressure in the past, and I didn’t cope well with it, but this year I’m trying to stay very relaxed.”

Her solid round kept her narrowly ahead of Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, who carded 67, and Japan’s Yuka Saso (69), in a tie for second.

Carlota Ciganda, 33, was disqualified after arguing a slow-play penalty and refusing to sign her scorecard after shooting a 1-over 72.

Ciganda lost her appeal of the twostroke penalty incurred on her final hole of the second round.

Champions — Steven Alker moved to the top of the Senior British Open leaderboard with a 3-under 68 after Miguel Angel Jimenez followed up a round to remember with one to forget.

Playing on his 52d birthday, Alker hit four birdies in the second round along with a bogey at the par-4 10th.

The New Zealander was at 4 under overall and led fellow 52-year-old Alex Cejka (71) of Germany by a shot at Royal Porthcawl in Bridgend, Wales.

Alker is chasing his second major victory in the over-50 ranks. He won the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship last year.

Scotland’s Greig Hutcheon (68) was a further stroke back in third.

Overnight leader Jimenez had an opening-round 5-under 66 but dropped down to an eight-way tie for eighth after a 5-over 76, a frustrating round that included four bogeys between Nos. 1317.