Charles Schwab Challenge Round 2: Rookie Jordan Smith Rolls Into the Lead at Colonial

Rookie seasons on the PGA TOUR are supposed to come with a learning curve. Jordan Smith, a 33-year-old Englishman in a first season as a TOUR member, spent Friday at Colonial skipping straight to the part where you lead.

Smith shot a second straight 5-under 65 to reach 10-under 130 and take a one-shot lead at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Hideki Matsuyama (65), Michael Thorbjornsen (65), Brian Harman (66) and Ryan Gerard (67) are tied for second at 9 under. Another five players sit two back at 8 under, including reigning U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley and Alex Smalley.

One Putt Breaks the Logjam

For most of the afternoon it looked like the weekend would start with another crowd sharing the top spot. Smith changed that at the par-3 16th, rolling in a 31-foot birdie putt to step clear of the pack and stay there.

It is the first time Smith has led a TOUR event. "It's going to be a new experience for us out here leading for the first time," Smith said. The reason for it was not complicated. "The putter's been hot the last two days, which is nice to see," Smith said.

Two rounds of 65 on a course that usually punishes loose shots is a serious statement. Colonial still has to be played on the weekend, but the newcomer has put a number on the board that everyone else has to chase.

The Chasers at 9 Under

The group one back is a fascinating mix. Matsuyama matched Smith with a 65 and looks comfortable on a course that demands precision with the irons. Thorbjornsen, still chasing a first TOUR win, also shot 65.

Harman's 66 came with a warning about what lies ahead. The fairways at Hogan's Alley have been soft all week, but the heat is drying them out. "The fairways will get firm and these fairways will get tougher to hit, and that's how this place protects itself," Harman said. Harman also called Colonial "a thinking man's course," and the patience required to post a number here showed all over the top of the board.

Gerard is the only one of Thursday's six co-leaders who stayed within a shot of the top. A 67 kept Gerard at 9 under, and the confidence is clearly there. "I like where I'm hitting the golf ball, and I like how I'm rolling it," Gerard said.

Spaun's New Putter Pays Off

Spaun's season has been a strange one for a major champion. The U.S. Open winner missed the cut in six of the first 13 starts this year, including the Masters and the PGA Championship, even after winning the Valero Texas Open. Spaun said the putter had been the only real problem all year and made a switch this week.

So far, so good. A 2-under 68 followed the opening 64, and Spaun is two back at 8 under. "It's nice to see that the putter switch was a good change," Spaun said.

Spaun shares that spot with Akshay Bhatia (65), Henley (66), Brice Garnett (66) and Smalley (67). Henley has quietly posted back-to-back 66s, the kind of steady work that rarely makes noise on a Friday but keeps a player in range for the weekend.

Ewart Steals the Show

The best round of the day belonged to A.J. Ewart, whose career-best 7-under 63 included a hole-in-one at the 195-yard 16th. That was the second ace on that hole this week, after Brandt Snedeker found the cup there on Thursday. Ewart jumped to 7 under, three back, in a group with Michael Brennan (66), Mackenzie Hughes (67) and Mac Meissner.

The scoring overall stayed generous. Through two rounds the field produced 154 sub-par rounds, tying the tournament's high, per the AP. That says as much about the soft conditions as it does about the quality of the golf.

Cut Day Casualties

The cut moved around all afternoon before settling at 2 under. Several big names went home. Tony Finau shot 70-70 to finish at even par, and Rickie Fowler (70-73), Sungjae Im (70-76) and Keith Mitchell (71-69) also missed out.

Defending champion Ben Griffin, the 2025 winner here, shot a second straight 68 and made the weekend comfortably at 4 under, six back. Justin Thomas, who started Friday outside the eventual cut line, shot 67 to get to 4 under as well. Gary Woodland is part of a large group at 6 under, and Ludvig Åberg also sits at 6 under.

Weekend Heat

The forecast for the weekend calls for temperatures in the mid-90s with almost no chance of rain, which means Colonial is about to get firmer and faster. That is when this course shows its real personality. Smith has the lead and a hot putter. The players right behind are major champions and proven closers. Saturday will reveal whether the rookie's composure holds up as the greens get firmer and the pressure ramps up.

Need a refresher on Thursday? Read our Round 1 recap. Full scoring is on the official PGA TOUR leaderboard (opens in a new tab), and the TOUR's Round 2 recap (opens in a new tab) has more.

Sources: PGA TOUR (Round 2 recap, cut-line report and leaderboard), AP. More golf coverage on Undrafted.

Photo: PGA TOUR.