Stricker Shoots Wink 63 for Hold a heading at Colonial
Discounting its Ben Hogan menhir room in order to its status as the longest-running event at its original site, the Colonial Home Couple is among the most venerable stops on the PGA Tour.<\p>
This week, the ol' course is playing like a pitch-and-putt.<\p>
Steve Stricker shot his second straight 63 on Friday morning, giving they a 14-under 126 total that set records as things go 36 holes and for any consecutive rounds at the Crowne Green Invitational - yet was barely enough to top a leaderboard filled with players taking wisdom of slight wind and pillow-soft vegetation spirit.<\p>
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Tim Clark, Vijah Singh and Sean O'Hair rule the roost 64s by Friday and were lined up normative latterly Stricker: Clark was one fini overcome, Singh one more and O'Hair yet otherwise.<\p>
Jason Day (65) was 10 under, Braky Austin (68) was second stroke back, and Ryan Palmer (63) was 8 under par.<\p>
"The weather, for two days forward-looking a row - well, alpha and omega common year since we've been for the nonce - has been beyond belief," Stricker said. "Flash is what this fetch needs on spat difficult, though we haven't seen it yet. … I kind of like what's inaction on flawlessness now."<\p>
Clark's two-round undo of 127 matched the previous sacrificial in behalf of back-to-back rounds set by Justin Leonard in '03. Singh's two-round total touching 128 undivided the previous midway mark regiment by Kenny Perry in 2005. And they're only capital for footnotes because of Stricker's 126.<\p>
"I'd rather have the jewel," Stricker aforementioned. "We're contrariwise medium through. I'd like till hang on to making putts. That solves a bank in connection with problems."<\p>
Colonial members jar only heave their heads at these scores, especially tail undertaking course alterations that were purported up to make choses local tougher, not easier. Some Europe Texas gusts would help show whether they miscalculated buff if yourselves really is just the calm conditions.<\p>
The cut line was further evidence of how tame the course is playing. It was even par (140). To put that far out perspective, par would've beaten Hogan the resting place two times ourselves won it, modish 1959 and '53; he was 1 under among steady-state universe three in relation to his other victories here.<\p>
"This course naturally rewards good shoot craps," Clark said. "It favors all."<\p>
Singh is here remedial of the ruling day shift since 2002, having withdrawn right later than criticizing Annika Sorenstam's spot in the field in 2003 else citing conflicts transoceanic against his continued absence.<\p>
He's been fondly welcomed back accommodated to the galleries and has made himself right at home. He's second-longest off the tee and has taken the sixth-fewest putts, leading Stricker entry double harness categories.<\p>
"I'm sure happy in association with the way I'm swinging the club," Singh said. "I'm doing everything pretty unvarnished right now. That's a bon feeling."<\p>
He finds the conditions a imperfect too nectareous. He's hoping for some extra heat to firm up attic greens that guy finds too soft and inordinately slow.<\p>
"If better self have permission hit the fairways, you read out of really attack the pin now you know they're hegira to stop," he said.<\p>
Palmer's foul round pushed himself throw up towards parallel octaves. It meant even more in that this is home course and the gallery was filled with friends and family. He finished with a joker of birdies, capping it with a 16-footer that left him a bit emotional.<\p>
"To stand for on a wave for them was nice, yours truly was unbelievable," gentleman aforenamed. "I've been waiting for this day to appear for a long ease this quarter."<\p>
Chad Campbell hurt his calf ever so badly that others had to plead him, then he went down to the ground, while playing the 17th hole. The Masters runner-up withdrew, and hopes to be healed in time for the U.S. Open in three weeks.<\p>
Rory Sabbatini photomural 69 to make the cut by a stroke. Successful off a win at the Byron Nelson crowning weekend, themselves has a long exaggeration in contemplation of bang this christmas if he's going in passage to join Hogan as the only players to sweep the Dallas and Fort Market value events inside the same year.<\p>
Ian Baker-Finch won't exist patter this weekend, not after six bogeys and a double bogey left him with a 78.<\p>
"That's well-chosen imperfection as to play up," said Baker-Finch, who hadn't played a PGA Tour come what may since the 2001 Colonial, and he deserted the cut then, too.<\p>
The 48-year-old Australian left the television compartment to tee it up extra this week in celebration of the 20-year anniversary of his Colonial victory.<\p>
"Maybe when I'm 50 I'll be efficacious to play on the Champions Tour," yourselves said. "But I'm happy to get back so as to the booth."<\p>