HONOLULU \u2014 The wind arrived early and stayed late Friday in the second round of the PGA Tour\u2019s season-opening Sony Open. Davis Riley thrived in the difficult conditions in the morning, birdieing the par-5 18th for a 64 and a share of the lead.<\/p>\n
Riley matched defending champion Nick Taylor, Kevin Roy, S.H. Kim and Adrien Dumont de Chassart at 9-under 131 at Waialae Country Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think these conditions are kind of bringing it out in me a little bit because you have to be creative,\u201d Riley said. \u201cIt\u2019s not like you\u2019re trying to make perfect golf swings every time. There is definitely some feel and creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taylor faced the stiffest wind of the day in the afternoon a day after shooting a 62 in calmer conditions for a share of the first-round lead with Roy. The Canadian ran in a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-4 15th and a 17-footer on the par-4 16th to take the outright lead, then bogeyed the par-3 17th to slip back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wind was strong and with some gusts,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cA lot of the holes were relatively crosswind, so it was tough to get the yardages correctly. Sometimes it would hurt, sometimes it would help. Almost had to time your shots correctly and get a little bit of luck, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, Taylor chipped in for eagle on 18 to get into a playoff, then beat Nico Echavarria with a birdie.<\/p>\n
Roy closed with a birdie on the par-5 ninth late in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you get wind like that doesn\u2019t really feel like it\u2019s in the same direction,\u201d Roy said. \u201cIt\u2019s just blowing everywhere seems like. I tried to do a really good job at just trying to plot myself around the course.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dumont de Chassart shot 67, and Kim had a 68 \u2014 both in the morning.<\/p>\n
Morning starter Maverick McNealy (66) was a stroke back with afternoon players Takumi Kanaya (66), John Parry (68) and Chris Gotterup (69).<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, tough day out here with the wind,\u201d Gotterup said.<\/p>\n
Jordan Spieth was 3 under after a 69. He pointed to a bogey on 15.<\/p>\n