Sergio Surges to Top of BMW Championship


Sergio Garcia carded a 6-undder 64 to take the halfway lead in the BMW Championship. The third of four events in the PGA Tour's season-ending FedEx Cup Playoffs started Thursday at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver.

In the first round the classic, the 1922 course designed by William Flynn played hard and fast, and the scores showed it, as the leaders - Gary Woodland, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy - opened with 67s to share the 18-hole lead.

But overnight rains softened the layout before Friday's second round. Garcia took full advantage, posting five birdies, an eagle on the par-4 seventh hole - when he holed out from 126 yards - and a lone bogey to reach 8-under 132.

One stroke back is American Ryan Palmer, who also fired a 64, while trailing by two are Northern Ireland's McIlroy, who shot his second straight 67, and Billy Horschel.

McIlroy, the top-ranked player in golf, carded four birdies and a bogey to get to 6-under 134. The 25-year-old entered the BMW Championship in second place in the FedEx Cup Playoff standings behind last week's winner at the Deutsche Bank Championship, Chris Kirk.

Sharing fifth at 136 are Canada's Graham DeLaet (68), reigning Masters' champion Bubba Watson (66) and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (67).

Among those five strokes behind Garcia are Rickie Fowler (66), Spieth (70) and No. 2-ranked Adam Scott (66).

Kirk followed up his opening 71 with a 70. Woodland had a 73 and enters the weekend at even-par 140.

Phil Mickelson carded a 76 and will likely miss the 30-player Tour Championship for the first time since the FedEx Playoffs began. Lefty is at 6-over 146.

After completing nine holes, Jason Day withdrew, citing a back injury he suffered during Wednesday's pro-am. "I am extremely disappointed to have to pull out of this event," Day told reporters. "I will be getting treatment over the next few days and hopefully be ready for the Tour Championship."

For updated scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.