Sawt Falasteen - Berger extends lead midway through Arnold Palmer Invitational

The 32-year-old American entered the clubhouse with a six-shot lead over a crowded field, as he chases his first PGA Tour win in five years.

"I actually feel like I played better" today, said Berger, despite having made a flawless 63 the previous day.

"I think the course was a little tougher today. The green speeds are up there. The pin positions are tough."

A four-time winner on the PGA Tour, whose last triumph came at Pebble Beach in 2021, Berger started his second round with intent, immediately sinking a 24-foot putt from the fringe for a birdie on the opening hole.

Though he recorded his first bogey of the week at par-three seventh, two-putting after finding a bunker, it was smooth sailing for the native Floridian on the back nine, where he picked up three more birdies.

Sweden's Ludvig Aberg was among the players in the clubhouse on seven under par, along with Sahith Theegala who shot up the leaderboard with a bogey-free round of 67.

The American managed five birdies, holing in from a bunker on the 10th and putting from 14 feet on the 16th.

Theegala expressed relief at keeping his scorecard flawless with a clutch 10-foot par putt on the final hole.

"It was a great round, to go around this place with no bogeys. That putt on the last for sure meant a lot," he said.

Theegala predicted conditions would become even tougher, with the greens expected to get firmer still over a hot weekend.

"Part of the reason why I love this place is just, it's straight carnage... these first few days were probably as good as scoring gets out here," he said.

Rory McIlroy -- gearing up to defend his Masters title next month -- also carded one of Friday's best rounds, declaring himself "very pleased" to finish in 68 after an erratic even-par opening round.

McIlroy carded five birdies and a solitary bogey on the par-four eighth, where he found the water but prevented further damage with a 10-foot putt.

"I really felt like that kept any momentum that I had for the round going. I played the last 10 holes really, really well," he said.

X.Habash--SF-PST