McIlroy covered his last nine holes in five under par to card a second round of 67 at Los Angeles Country Club.

Joint leader expects tougher times ahead as greens firm up after equalling lowest round in major history.

Rahm birdied his opening hole in the first round before slumping to a six-over-par 76

American players remain eligible for the biennial contest despite being banned or resigning from the PGA Tour

Dustin Johnson set the early clubhouse target after a second-round 67.

The former champion remained six over par early in his second round

The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.