Charley Hoffman and Rico Hoey both shot a 9-under 63 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course to share the lead Friday after two rounds at The American Express.

Charley Hoffman won The American Express golf tournament, then the Bob Hope Classic, in January of 2007. That was four months before Blades Brown was born. On Friday, with the 17-year-old Brown playing his second round as a pro, Hoffman found himself outplaying the youngster, though just barely, to take the lead in the desert’s PGA Tour event.

T hursday was a ho-hum-type day for Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler, with Thomas posting a bogey-free 5-under 67 and Fowler signing for a 3-under 69. Both those scores would norma

Leading scores after the second round of the PGA Tour's American Express tournament in La Quinta, California on Friday (USA unless stated; par-72):

American Express tee times for Thursday's first round in California, featuring Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark and more.

PGA Tour veteran Charley Hoffman and the Philippines' Rico Hoey each shot 9-under-par 63 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Friday to split the 36-hole lead at The American Express in La Quinta, Calif.

Jon Rahm missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic.