FORT WORTH, Texas — Sergio Garcia, back at the scene of his first PGA Tour victory, moved within one stroke of the lead after the second round at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational here Friday.
The Masters champion made a sizzling start with four birdies in the first seven holes en route to a four-under-par 66 in breezy conditions at Colonial Country Club, where he secured his maiden American triumph 16 years ago.
Americans Webb Simpson (66), Kevin Kisner (67) and Scott Piercy (66) and New Zealander Danny Lee (64) headed a crowded halfway leaderboard on six-under 134, with Garcia, fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm, Englishman Paul Casey and American Sean O’Hair at five-under.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth avoided missing three consecutive cuts for the first time in his career after carding a 68 to trail the leaders by four shots.
Garcia said his putting had improved from the first round.
“I rolled a few putts in that I wasn’t able to do yesterday,” he told Golf Channel.
Lee also hit his share of excellent shots, particularly late on as he birdied his final three holes to post the day’s best round.
“I played great today,” said the 26-year-old South Korean-born Lee, whose game is back on track after a quiet six-month stretch.
Lee was excited by his position.
“I haven’t been in contention for so long. My game’s gone away for a while. I’m looking forward to next couple of days.”
Joint leader Simpson found his game mid-round thanks to a tip from his caddie Paul Tesori.
“I didn’t hit it well the first 12 holes,” said the 2012 US Open champion, who like Lee birdied the final three holes.
Park leads at halfway
LPGA Tour rookie Park Sung-hyun of South Korea shot a 7-under-par 65 Friday to take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Volvik Championship at Travis Pointe Country Club in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Park has a two-day total of 12-under, leaving her ahead of Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who shot 67 on Friday, and Minjee Lee of Australia, who fired a 66, both at 10-under par.
Three Americans — Lizette Salas, Cydney Clanton and Jennifer Song — join Shanshan Feng of China and Sarah Jane Smith of Australia, who are all tied for fourth at 9-under.
“I started birdie-birdie on the first two holes and after that I kind of lost it a little bit,” Park said through an interpreter. “But going into the back nine, the first hole, on 10, I made a birdie, and from that point on I think my putting kind of came back alive.”
Park dominated last season on the Korean LPGA, topping the money list with seven victories in 2017. She competed in seven events on the LPGA Tour in 2016 and tied for second at the Evian Championship.
Park has three top-four finishes on the LPGA Tour this year and leads the Rookie of the Year standings.
Lee, who went out with the early wave of golfers, held the lead for much of the day. She was disqualified from last week’s Kingsmill Championship after failing to sign her scorecard.
Pettersen played in the afternoon and recorded her second straight 67. She was a bit surprised by her scores.
The cut line was at 1-under par. Ryu So-yeon has the longest active streak of making cuts, dating back to 2014, and she just barely extended that streak, standing at 1-under after a 71 Friday. — Reuters
