FORT WORTH, Texas >> Ben Griffin could be on the verge of a breakthrough season on the PGA Tour. It’s more like a possible comeback for Rickie Fowler.

Griffin shot a 7-under 63 in the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial for the early second-round lead at 11 under Friday and was five shots ahead of Fowler, who made the turn in 29 before settling for a 64.

Chris Gotterup, like Griffin a one-time tour winner, was 8 under after a 65. John Pak, who shot 63 on Thursday for the first-round lead, was among the last to tee off Friday. Scottie Scheffler, who won the PGA Championship last weekend, shot 71 and was 10 shots behind Griffin as the world No. 1 tries to become the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win three consecutive starts.

Scheffler’s run started with a runaway three weeks ago, an eight-shot win at the first of his two hometown events, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson north of Dallas.

It was close, but Scheffler appeared set to make the cut, which would extend his streak to 55, second to Xander Schauffele’s 64.

Both of Scheffler’s playing partners were likely to miss the cut, including Davis Riley. The defending champion shot 69 while Daniel Berger, one of the eight top-25 players in the field, made an 83-foot putt from just off the green for birdie on the par-3 fourth hole in a round of 70. Both were at 2-over 142.

A month removed from teaming with Andrew Novak to win the Zurich Classic, Griffin made eight birdies — seven from inside 10 feet — and saved par with a 12-foot putt from the fringe after his only bogey.

The 29-year-old has already matched his career best of five top-10 finishes from last year, including a tie for fifth at the PGA.

“I feel like I’ve kind of made good steps the last couple of years just kind of building to get to that first win,” Griffin said. Fowler has dropped to 127th in the world after being in the top 25 as recently as early 2024. The six-time winner was solid in the $20 million signature Truist Championship two weeks ago but missed the cut at the PGA.

Bae birdies last hole for 36-hole lead in LPGA’s Mexico tournament

LPGA rookie Jenny Bae made it through an up-and-down stretch around the turn with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole for another 3-under 69, giving her a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open.

Miranda Wang of China had the best round of the week on the El Camaleon course at Mayakoba, running off seven birdies and keeping a clean card for a 65. That leaft Wang and Brianna Do (71) one shot behind.

Bae is trying to soak up the scenery and keep the stress to a minimum. That’s about to pick up on the weekend as she goes after her LPGA victory.

“There is going to be some stress and pressure added to it, but I think as long as I keep my momentum and just try to stay positive on every shot and every hoe, I think I’ll be OK,” Bae said. She was at 6-under 138 on what has been a tough golf course with wind and heat. El Camaleon on Mayakoba is where the PGA Tour played from 2007 through 2024, and where the LIV Golf League played last year.

Singh tied for lead in Senior PGA Championship at Congressional

Vijay Singh started thinking about what he might do with his weekend after bogeying the first three holes Friday at the Senior PGA Championship.

“Your mind just goes haywire,” he said. “But I’ve played long enough to know that there’s a lot of golf out there.”

Then, he showed it.

After missing the Masters and PGA Championship this spring because of an undisclosed injury, Singh looked perfectly healthy the rest of the second round with seven birdies to surge to the top of the leaderboard at Congressional Country Club. Shooting a 4-under 68, the former top-ranked player was tied for the lead with Y.E. Yang (68) and Cameron Percy (71) at 6 under halfway through the PGA Tour Champions major.

“I’ve been driving the ball good,” Singh said. “Just hung in there and started making a couple of birdies here and there, picked up the shots, and the back nine I played solid golf.”