After another lovely day on the par-73 Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii, Masters and US Open champion Spieth had a 16-under par total of 130 and a four-shot lead over first-round leader Patrick Reed, Kevin Kisner and Argentinian Fabian Gomez.
Reed had four birdies in a four-under 69 for 134, while Kisner climbed up the leaderboard with an eight-under 65 that included an eagle and six birdies and Gomez carded a bogey-free 66 that featured seven birdies.
New Zealand’s Danny Lee was alone in fifth after a 68 for 135.
Spieth said before the tournament that he hoped 2016 would prove a continuation of a stellar 2015 campaign that saw him grab two major titles among his five wins and add a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship and fourth-place at the British Open as well.
If the 22-year-old Texan claims his seventh US PGA Tour title this week, he would match the number Tiger Woods achieved before turning 23.
He cautioned, however, that with only 36 holes played in the elite event for last season’s winners there was “a long way to go”.
After birdies at five, six and eight, Spieth took command with an eagle at the par-five ninth where he chipped in 36 feet.
He birdied 13, 14 and 15, and added a last birdie at 18 — where his 13-foot putt hung on the lip for a fraction of a second before falling.
It was in all the way.
Jordan Spieth shoots 64. Leads by four. #QuickHits https://t.co/ssmi0Md1o1
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 9, 2016It looked all but effortless, but Spieth said a 16-under over the final two days would be “difficult to duplicate”.
“It just comes down to no bogeys,” he said. “If I can continue to limit those or keep a blemish-free card, we’re going to be in a good position because there’s enough easy holes to take advantage of.”
Kisner eagled the par-five fifth and strung together three straight birdies from 10 through 12 among his six birdies.
He is enjoying his first outing at Kapalua courtesy of his victory at Sea Island in November — a win that followed four runner-up finishes in 2015, three of those in playoffs.
Australia’s Jason Day, whose five wins last season included his breakthrough major at the PGA Championship, carded an even-par 73 — dropping three shots in the last two holes with a bogey followed by a double-bogey.
His three-under total of 143 left him tied for 21st in the field of 32.
British Open champion Zach Johnson was a stroke further back after following up an opening 75 with a 69.
