by 
Birthday boy Xander Schauffele shot a sub-par 65 at the US PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship in Japan on Friday to make up ground after his opening day quadruple bogey.
The two-time major winner was 10 shots behind Colombian leader Nico Echavarria at the halfway point at Narashino Country Club.
Echavarria had a total of 12 under, two strokes ahead of Americans Taylor Moore and Justin Thomas.
Schauffele got off to a disastrous start Thursday when he carded an eight on the par-four ninth hole after his tee shot got stuck among tree roots.
The American twice tried to hit the ball but failed to dislodge it and looked ready to give it a third hit before shaking his head, laughing and opting to take a penalty for an unplayable lie.
Schauffele had better luck on Friday – his 31st birthday – with five birdies and no bogeys to leave him at two under overall.
“Yeah, it was better, a little bit,” said Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship and British Open in a breakthrough 2024.
“I mean, other than one hole yesterday, I kind of fed off a lot of my holes and probably hit the ball a little better today.
“I missed a few makeable putts and made some I shouldn’t, so overall it was a pretty solid day.”
Schauffele’s playing partner, Rickie Fowler, moved up the leaderboard after shooting a 64-under par to sit at eight under par.
Fowler, who finished tied for second at the tournament two years ago, had seven birdies and one bogey and said he played “a little bit better across the board.”
“I did a little better than yesterday and I hit better iron shots,” said the American, tied for seventh.
“Not much different, I tried to keep it simple.”
Defending champion Collin Morikawa made double bogey for the second day in a row, but carded a 67 and was eight shots back.
Japanese Olympic bronze medalist Hideki Matsuyama scored a 71 and finished two-up.
amk/pst
