Sam Burns posts 61, vaults into lead at American Express

Sam Burns holed two eagles en route to an 11-under-par 61 on Friday to grab the second-round lead at The American Express in La Quinta, Calif.

Burns caught fire at PGA West's Nicklaus Tournament Course, one of three courses the field is playing over the first three rounds. The others are La Quinta Country Club and PGA West's Pete Dye Stadium Course; the Stadium Course will also host the final round after a 54-hole cut.

At 17-under 127 through two rounds, Burns has a one-shot edge on Michael Kim, who also played the Nicklaus Tournament Course and turned in a 63.

Amateur Nick Dunlap is in the mix at 15 under through two rounds. His bogey-free 65 at the Stadium Course vaulted the 20-year-old into a tie for third with South Korea's K.H. Lee (64, Nicklaus). Dunlap, a former U.S. Junior Amateur champion, is a sophomore at Alabama.

Burns eagled the par-5 fourth and 11th holes while adding a three-birdie run on the front nine and a four-birdie stretch on the back, teasing a possible 59 before finishing with two pars. The 27-year-old has won five PGA Tour events since May 2021.

—Field Level Media