THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Miguel Angel Jimenez shot his second straight 4-under 68 on Saturday to take the second-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ Invesco QQQ Championship.
Second in the season points standings, Jimenez had a one-stroke lead over Stephen Ames, Michael Bradley and Scott Parel in the second of the tour’s three playoff events.
Jimenez has six senior victories, winning major championships this year at the Regions Tradition and British Senior Open. The 54-year-old Spanish star closed with a birdie on the par-4 18th after missing some late birdie chances.
“You need to place the ball,” Jimenez said. “It’s not totally about hitting long. Hitting long is important, but you need to place the ball on the golf course.”
The top 54 in the standings qualified for the event, with 50 players making the trip to Sherwood Country Club. The top 36 on Sunday will advance to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Nov. 8-11 in Phoenix.
“At the end of the day, you can’t focus on that. You have to focus on the day,” Jimenez said. “Live the moment. Live the present.”
Ames shot 65, Bradley 69 and Parel 70. First-round leader Tom Byrum (72), David McKenzie (70) and David Toms (67) were 6 under, and points leader Bernhard Langer (71) was 5 under with Paul Goydos (69).
Langer is the defending tournament champion. The 61-year-old German star finished second behind Woody Austin last week in the playoff opener in Virginia after winning the regular-season finale in North Carolina.