Fowler grabs Honda Classic lead, McIlroy faces early exit

World number five Rickie Fowler fired another bogey-free 66 on Friday to grab the early second-round lead in the US PGA Tour's Honda Classic.

Fowler's second straight four-under effort on the Champion course at PGA National, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, gave him an eight-under total of 132, and a one-shot clubhouse lead over fellow American Jimmy Walker, whose second-round 66 included an eagle at the par-five 18th -- his ninth hole of the day.

"I've been swinging well," said Fowler, whose strong early-season form included a victory in Abu Dhabi and a playoff loss to Hideki Matsuyama in Phoenix.

"It's nice to hit fairways, hit greens, especially at a place like this where it's very demanding tee to green."

First-round co-leader Sergio Garcia, playing alongside Fowler, signed for a 69 for 134.

"I felt like I played quite well. Obviously the course is not getting any easier as the week goes on. The wind was not as much as yesterday but it was still challenging," Garcia said.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed course -- featuring the tough "Bear Trap" of holes 15, 16 and 17 -- got the better of Rory McIlroy, who looked headed for an early exit for the second straight year after a two-over 72 that included a triple-bogey six at the par-three fifth -- his 14th hole of the day.

McIlroy's four-over total of 144 put him outside the projected cut line, another disappointing finish in a tournament where he has experienced wildly fluctuating fortunes.

McIlroy's 2012 victory at PGA National propelled him to number one in the world for the first time.

Defending his title the following year, he was struggling when he withdrew complaining of a painful wisdom tooth. After missing out in a playoff in 2014, he missed the cut last year.

Playing alongside McIlroy, defending champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland rebounded from his opening 73 with a gritty two-under par 68 that had him heading into the weekend on one-over 141.

Harrington nabbed seven birdies to offset three bogeys and a double bogey.