SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Former British Open champ Zach Johnson played his way into a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Texas Open, reeling off four straight birdies en route to a seven-under 65.

The 42-year-old has a history at this event, having won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, the first two times he competed in it.

“I felt really good coming into the week,” said Johnson, who also won the 2007 Masters crown.

“I hit solid shots. I was fixated on keeping the peddle down. I was striking it well. My driver was key. The confidence is there.”

Under cloudy, windy conditions in San Antonio on Friday, he rolled in six birdies and an eagle to tie for the lead at nine-under 135 with fellow American Ryan Moore, who fired a five-under 67. They will be in the final group in Saturday’s third round.

They are one stroke ahead of Andrew Landry and Grayson Murray, who shot 67 and 69, respectively.

Ben Crane (66), Martin Laird of Scotland (65) and Canada’s David Hearn (68) are tied for fifth at six-under, three shots adrift of the leaders.

Both Johnson’s win here came on a different course, LaCantera Golf Club, but the TPC San Antonio suits him just fine.

He is one of just four winners in tournament history, dating to 1922, to successfully defend the title, joining Bill Mehlhorn 1928-29, Arnold Palmer 1960-62 and Justin Leonard 2000-01.

The 2015 British Open winner holed out of a greenside bunker at the fifth hole for an eagle-two, his second eagle of the week. On the par-four 15th he hit his 173-yard approach to 15 feet then sank the putt for his fourth straight birdie.

Johnson has made the cut in all 12 starts this season as he aims for his 13th win on the USPGA Tour.

Moore shot his second straight bogey free round on Friday after posting a 68 Thursday.

Except on the sixth and 17th holes when he rolled in birdie putts from more than 14 feet.

Moriya leads at halfway

Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn, who is seeking her first win on the USLPGA Tour, fired a bogey-free five-under 66 to take a one stroke lead after the second round of the LA Open.

Moriya started quickly on the back nine on Friday with two birdies in her first four holes of the round at the Wilshire Country Club course to reach a total of eight-under 134.

American Marina Alex is alone in second after shooting a 68 for a seven-under total while two time major winner Ryu So-yeon is in the hunt two shots back of Moriya after a 65.

Seven time major champion Park In-bee is tied for fourth with South Korean compatriot Ji Eun-hee at five-under 137.

Ko Jin-young shot a 67 and is alone in sixth as five of the top six players are from South Korea to the delight of the galleries this week because Los Angeles is home to a huge South Korean expat community.

Moriya, who also has a sister Ariya on the Tour, rocketed to the top of the leaderboard with a burst of three straight birdies on her back nine.

This is just the second time in her career Moriya has held the 36-hole lead. The first was last season at the Evian Championship, where she finished just one stroke away from making a playoff between Anna Nordqvist and Brittany Altomare.

Last week’s tournament champ Brooke Henderson of Canada stumbled to an eight-over 79 and missed the cut along with former major champions Anna Nordqvist, Stacy Lewis and Juli Inkster. — AFP