Kim’s historic 60 sets five-shot lead at 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Si Woo Kim’s aggressive play at TPC Craig Ranch creates a commanding advantage, though inclement weather and a deep contender pool threaten to disrupt the leaderboard.
Si Woo Kim has established a commanding five-shot lead at the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson following a second-round 60 at TPC Craig Ranch. The South Korean golfer finished the day at 18 under par, a total that stands as the second-lowest 36-hole score in PGA Tour history, trailing only Justin Thomas’s 133 at the 2017 Sony Open. Kim’s performance, however, was marked by a narrow miss of history; a bogey on the final hole prevented him from joining Jim Furyk with the lowest round in Tour records.
Kim’s round was defined by aggressive play on a course that rewarded risk. He opened with six birdies on the front nine to shoot 30, maintaining momentum through five additional birdies in his first six holes on the back nine. He reached 12 under par with one hole remaining, needing only a par to break 60. Despite a strong approach on the 17th that left him with a downhill putt, Kim’s drive on the 18th pulled left, leading to a challenging up-and-down that ended in a bogey.
Scottie Scheffler sits in second place at 13 under par, eight shots behind Kim. Scheffler surged into contention with a round of 63, highlighted by three birdies and an eagle in a four-hole stretch from the 11th to the 14th hole. This result extends Scheffler’s recent pattern of near-misses, as he has finished second in three of his last four events. He will need to overcome this runner-up streak to challenge Kim’s lead over the weekend.
The chase group includes Sungjae Im and Jordan Spieth, who are tied for sixth at 12 under par. Im recorded a hole-in-one on the seventh hole and an eagle on the ninth during his round of 61, while Spieth shot a 62. Both players are seeking to end lengthy winning droughts, with Im last victorious in 2021 and Spieth in 2022. Brooks Koepka also remains in contention, sitting at 10 under par after a second-round 69, though he missed 11 fairways in the opening round.
Weather conditions are expected to complicate the third round on Saturday, with forecasts predicting inclement weather that may necessitate tee time adjustments. Players will likely depart in threesomes from split tees to avoid afternoon storms. Additionally, 19-year-old Blades Brown, tied for 38th at 8 under, is pursuing a solo 21st-place finish or better to secure special temporary exempt status for the remainder of the season.
