Burns claims Houston Open lead, Johnson bounces back but Spieth misses cut

Houston, November 7: Sam Burns earned a two-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Houston Open, where former world number one Jordan Spieth's struggles continued after another missed cut.

Burns – eyeing a maiden PGA Tour title – carded a five-under-par 65 to top the leaderboard following Friday's second round at Memorial Park Municipal Golf Course.

The 24-year-old American was flawless as he holed five birdies without dropping a shot in Texas, where round two was suspended due to darkness.

Burns recorded his second career lead/co-lead on Tour – his first came at the 2020 Safeway Open following the second round.

Leaderboard after Round 2 at the Vivint @HouOpenGolf:

1. @SamBurns66 -7
T2. @JDayGolf -5
T2. @CarlosOrtizGolf
T4. @BrandtSnedeker -4
T4. @Dawie1983
T4. @CoreConn
T4. @AaronWise_
T4. @PKizzire

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 6, 2020

Jason Day (68), another former world number one, and Mexican Carlos Ortiz (68) are Burns' nearest challengers at five under.

Overnight leader Brandt Snedeker dropped down into a tie for fourth after his second-round 71, alongside Dawie van der Walt (66), Corey Conners (67), Aaron Wise (66) and Patton Kizzire (67).

World number one Dustin Johnson regrouped to post a four-under-par 66, enough for a share of 14th position – five shots off the pace.

In action for the first time since the U.S. Open after recovering from coronavirus, bounced back from a first-round 72 with six birdies and two bogeys.

Playing bogey-free today, @SamBurns66 is -4 thru 12.

He currently holds a three-stroke lead on the field at -6. pic.twitter.com/wheplWz7yk

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 6, 2020

Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka survived to qualify for the weekend courtesy of his 70.

Ahead of this month's reschedule Masters, Koepka is tied for 46th at two over, just two strokes above the projected cut.

Spieth's tournament came to an end following back-to-back rounds in the 70s – his third missed cut in five outings.

The American star has not won since the 2017 Open Championship.

The likes of Sergio Garcia (71) and Phil Mickelson (73) also failed to make it to the weekend.

Mickelson finished nine over after shooting an eight on the par-three ninth hole – the highest score on a par three of his PGA Tour career.