ST. LOUIS — For the first time in his 210 PGA TOUR starts, Wyndham Clark is bogey-free through 36 holes.

The reigning U.S. Open champion made six birdies Friday, posting his second consecutive 64 to reach 12-under par and break out of a five-way tie at the 2026 BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club. Clark’s low-stress outing saw him hit 17 greens and make almost 65 feet of putts as he took a one-shot lead.

“It’s been really nice, boring golf, which is kind of always the dream that you play,” said Clark, the only player in the field without a bogey. “I said to everyone, ‘If I continue to hit fairways, I think I can continue to do that with my play.’ Hopefully, I keep that going.”

Clark – a two-time U.S. Open winner – is vying to become the first player to win the U.S. Open and BMW Championship in the same season since Dustin Johnson in 2016. His best finish in four BMW Championship starts is T13 in 2024.

“I’ve been close in this event a couple times, so it would be nice to pull through and get a” win, Clark said.

He’ll have to hold off local favorite Gary Woodland. The Kansas-born Woodland, who was also part of the five-way tie for first to start the day, shot a bogey-free 65, finishing with birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.

Woodland started the week No. 31 in the FedExCup standings but is projected to move up to No. 17. That would be good enough to earn him a spot in the season-ending TOUR Championship in Atlanta for the first time since 2019.

“My focus right now is one day at a time,” he said. “I don't have that luxury to look ahead. I got to focus on making sure I take care of myself right now. Tomorrow's a new day, and hopefully I get some rest tonight and I'll show up tomorrow and see how it comes.”

J.J. Spaun kept pace with his fellow U.S. Open champions, posting a 4-under 66 to find himself alone in third place at 10-under par. He’s one shot ahead of Chris Gottterup and Sungjae Im and two ahead of Patrick Cantlay and Michael Thorbjornsen.

Rory McIlroy, who also opened the championship with a 64, shot 69 on Friday and is tied for eighth with Russell Henley, Maverick McNealy and Collin Morikawa.

Spectator gates open at 7 a.m. Saturday, with third-round tee times starting at 8:06 a.m.