PGA Tour news: Russell Henley opens up three-shot lead in Mexico

The 33-year-old American has been in red-hot form at El Camaleon in Riviera Maya, Mexico, firing back-to-back 63s for a 16-under-par total through 36 holes.

"I felt great the last two days," Henley said. "Mentally felt confident and believing in what I was doing. Hit a lot of fairways and had some nice par saves that kept my round going. Very happy with where I am."

Overnight leader Will Gordon is Henley's closest challenger after following up his opening 62 with a second-round 67.

Gordon shares second place three shots back with countryman Sam Ryder, one stroke ahead of American Patton Kizzire and two clear of Swede David Lingmerth.

Both Gordan and Ryder are chasing their first PGA Tour wins.

In January, Henley came close to ending his PGA Tour drought in Hawaii victory but lost the Sony Open in a playoff to Japan's Hideki Matsuyama.

On Friday, he picked up four birdies on the front nine and four more after the turn in a bogey-free round.

"Definitely things were going my way," Henley said. "A lot of my lag putts today and some of my chips weren't great, but I ended up making the putt and keeping the round going in a great direction."

Two-time defending champion Viktor Hovland of Norway fell eight shots off the pace after a second-round 68 as he chases a rare PGA Tour three-peat.

Scottie Scheffler, who could become the new world number one if he wins this weekend, shot a 71 to share 29th place, 10 shots off the pace.