Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas tied in Honda Classic

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas led at the midpoint of the Honda Classic, tied at eight-under-par 132 and one shot ahead of Vijay Singh on Friday.

Kim was one of four players to match the best round on the PGA National Champion course with a six-under 64, and Villegas shot 66 for the second consecutive day, when the only thing that improved more than the weather Friday was the scoring.

“Trust me, it’s a tough golf course,� Villegas said.

Maybe so, but since the Honda moved to the Jack Nicklaus redesign in 2007, there’s never been an easier day to get around.

Singh (66) was a stroke back at seven under, Jerry Kelly (65) was alone in fourth at six under, and a fivesome of players — Mike Weir, Matt Every, Graeme McDowell, Chez Reavie and first-round co-leader Nathan Green — all will enter the weekend three shots off the lead.

“I think we got the favorable wind today,� Stephen Ames said.

Everybody did. Thursday was marked by wind gusts over 30 mph; Friday merely had occasionally strong breezes and little else.

It showed in the scoring.

Entering Friday, there had been 1,445 competitive Honda rounds played at PGA National, with two rounds of 64: Luke Donald in 2008 and Greg Chalmers in 2009. On Friday alone, there were four — with Ames, Paul Casey, Weir and Kim all getting there.

“Probably only about half a club of wind, which was nice at times,� said Ames, who is three under entering the weekend. “A lot different than it was yesterday.�

Alexandre Rocha, the Brazilian who was one stroke off the lead after the first round, shot a six-over 76 and is at two over, 10 shots back. But he did make a PGA Tour cut for the first time.