While the other two co-leaders faced the Seaside Course, Putnam’s 7-under effort came on the easier Plantation Course and included a run of four straight birdies on Nos. 5-8 before a closing bogey on No. 9, his lone dropped shot of the day. At 12 under he’s atop a crowded leaderboard, with three other players one shot back, as he looks to win on Tour for the second time. He’s the first player to hold at least a share of the 36-hole lead at multiple events this season, having already done so at the Zozo Championship en route to a runner-up finish. Putnam has now made the cut in eight straight starts to begin the new season, the longest such run of his career, and has not missed a cut in a stroke-play event since the Memorial in June.