Dustin Johnson produced a golfing masterclass as he surged into a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the inaugural Saudi International powered by SBIA.
Johnson rolled in seven birdies and a terrific eagle to get to 11 under for the tournament, with his nearest challengers - South African Zander Lombard and China’s Li Haotong - at eight under.
Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti and Australian Scott Hend are one shot further back, with Frenchman Alexander Levy, South Africa's Richard Sterne, New Zealand's Ryan Fox, Englishman Chris Paisley and Australia's Jake McLeod are at six under.
Johnson can record his first victory at a non co-sanctioned European Tour event if he maintains his place at the summit of the leaderboard and the American feels his patience on the course paid off in the second round.
Last week's Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner Bryson DeChambeau is at four under after a second successive 68 by the World Number Five.
Four-time European Tour winner and World Number Two Brooks Koepka felt he played better than his score suggested as he edged through on one under, alongside 2017 Masters Tournament winner Sergio Garcia, while fellow American Patrick Reed finished on two under.
Koepka said: "I played really well. I played good enough to be right up there around the lead. I can't figure out these greens. You can hit three putts and they'll go three different ways."
Lombard, starting on the back nine, briefly held the lead during the early stages of the second round, despite registering a bogey at the 12th following his stunning form around the turn.
Zanotti hit four birdies in a blemish-free second round to add to his first-round 67, while Hend turned in for 30 during his seven-under-par 63 to climb to tied fourth.
Levy holed out from the fairway for a stunning eagle two at the sixth during his five-under-par 65.
