Hideki Matsuyama shot a 6-under-par 66 on Friday to sit within two strokes of the lead after the second round of the CIMB Classic.
Matsuyama, who started the day in second place, carded six birdies and no bogeys at the par-72 Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club to finish the day at 13-under 131 in a three-way tie for third. Despite the impressive number on his scorecard, Matsuyama was less than satisfied.
"It was a round that left me frustrated, as neither my shots nor my putts were all that good," Matsuyama said.
On a day with calm winds and soft greens, low scores were in the cards. And Matsuyama executed early, with three birdies over the first five holes. But he struggled through the middle holes, not scoring another birdie until the 14th.
"Some parts of my game weren't very good," said Matsuyama, who has gone a year and five months since his maiden win on the U.S. PGA tour. "You can't win playing the way I did today."
American Justin Thomas shot a second-round 61 to seize the lead, a stroke ahead of countryman Brendan Steele.