By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A few of the names shifted atop the leaderboard on day two, but there remains a three-way tie for first place at the Hero World Challenge 2015, hosted at the Albany golf course.

World No.1 Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and Bill Haas, one of two golfers to receive a special exemption to the tournament, lead the field of 18 golfers at -11 under par.

It was a slow start for Spieth who began with a pair of bogeys on the opening holes, but he would quickly play his way out of the slump.

He scored three consecutive birdies on holes 6-8 and highlighted the day with an eagle on the 11th hole.

Spieth, who shot a 66 on day two, said, while the event has a laid back approach, the competitive nature of it is beginning to emerge.

"When we're on the course I'm definitely up there. Off the course preparation has been half vacation, half preparation. but on the golf course, I mean I'm still getting as intense and upset and highs and lows that I experience at a normal PGA Tour event," he said. "It's a little more fun because it's easier, you have two guys and we're playing faster and only 18 in the field, so it eases your mind a little bit, but the grind is still there."

Walker shot a 67 on day two to remain atop the leaderboard.

"I've been driving it good. I've been in the fairway and hitting good second shots," he said, "I'm just making some easier birdies. There hadn't been a whole lot of wedges into greens from poor drives and from lay-ups. Which is how i feel I should play, hitting long tee balls, good tee balls and hitting the par 5s."

Haas, the latest addition to the tournament, added that the elements are becoming a factor with strong wind throughout the afternoon.

"Today was nice. I mean, I would say for two days I played quite good enough for my expectations and you look up and yesterday Zach [Johnson] beat me and today. I was barely one better than Bubba [Watson]. The scores are just really good, which makes for an exciting weekend and I'm just happy to hold my own weight for two days," he said. "There's still a lot of golf left to be played. The wind blew two different directions today so you might see some different winds and the course might play a little different throughout the weekend."

The biggest risers on day two were Patrick Reed and Chris Kirk who tied for a course record 65.

They both moved behind the trio in a tie for fourth place.

Kirk said afterwards: "I hit the ball just really, really great today. Drove it good, just like I did yesterday and just gave myself a lot of really short looks for birdie.

"I felt like I could have gotten a few more there towards the end of the back nine but I'm very happy with the day."

Due to the threat of inclement weather on Saturday afternoon at Albany, tee times for Saturday's third round of the Hero World Challenge have been moved up to begin at 9.10am, with the last group teeing off at 10.30am 

T1    Jordan Spieth       -11

T1    Bill Haas               -11

T1    Jimmy Walker        -11

T4   Chris Kirk        -10

T4    Patrick Reed        -10

T4    Bubba Watson    -10

T7   Matt Kuchar        -8

T7    Paul Casey        -8

T7   Zach Johnson        -8

T10    Dustin Johnson    -7

T10   Brooks Koepka    -7

T10    Adam Scott        -7

13    Rickie Fowler        -6

T14    J.B. Holmes        -5

T14    Anirban Lahiri        -5

16   Billy Horschel        -3

17  Justin Rose        -1

18    Hideki Matsuyama    4