2024 Zozo Championship leaderboard, scores: Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler in the mix after Round 2 in Japan

Two of the most popular figures in the game find themselves in contention heading into the weekend

For the first time in his PGA Tour career, Nico Echavarria will head into the weekend of a tournament with the 36-hole lead. Carding back-to-back rounds of 6-under 64, the 30-year-old stands at 12 under at the halfway point of the 2024 Zozo Championship and two strokes clear of first-round leader Taylor Moore and Justin Thomas.

Thomas, of course, seeks to break a drought of his own as the two-time PGA Championship winner has been held without a trophy since earning his second Wanamaker at Southern Hills in 2022. Through two rounds at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, however, Thomas is looking much more like that version of himself.

"I felt like I maybe played a little better yesterday, as weird as it is," Thomas said following his second-round 64. "I just, I didn't hit my wedges or short irons as close as I would have liked. I made some nice putts today, a couple of 'em, but I stayed really, really patient. I felt like I had some pretty good scoring opportunities there on the front nine, and to only be 1 under was ... I don't want to say disappointing but felt like closer to the higher end of what I could have or should have shot. I know how this place is if you drive it well, and I have a lot of confidence in how I was driving it. Just tried to keep putting it in the fairway and attack from there."