Garcia Up by One in Houston Open


Sergio Garcia followed up his opening 5-under 67 with a flawless 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the Shell Houston Open. The $6.4 million PGA Tour event - the final tune-up before next week's Masters - began Thursday at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.

On Friday Garcia carded five birdies and an eagle - on the par-5 13th hole - to reach 12-under 132, a shot ahead of Matt Kuchar (67).

"I was able for the most part of the day drive the ball fairly well and my iron play was quite good and short game worked nicely again, so I'm very happy with that," the 34-year-old Spaniard said during a TV interview.

"It was the kind of day you needed (to be in control) because there were a lot of tight tee shots and tough second shorts into the greens. I was a little fortunate a couple of holes, was able to make a couple really nice pars and kept my round going."

Kuchar, who opened with a 66, had six birdies and a bogey on his scorecard.

Sharing third at 8-under are Australia's Matt Jones (68) and Americans Cameron Tringale (68), Shawn Stefani (69) and Jimmy Walker, who matched Garcia for the low round of the day.

Walker, the Tour's only three-time winner this season, posted eight birdies and a lone bogey.

First-round co-leaders Bill Haas and Charley Hoffman, who started off with 65s, slipped down the leaderboard after shooting 74 and 76, respectively.

Phil Mickelson continued his fine play, following up an opening 68 with a 70 to reach 6-under with several other players. Mickelson has seemingly overcome a pulled oblique muscle in his right side that caused him to withdraw after completing 10 holes in the third round of last week's Valero Texas Open.

There were several players still on the course when this story was posted, and the tentative 36-hole cut was set at 1-under 143. Among those not making the weekend are 2013 Rookie of the Year, Dallas native Jordan Spieth, who shot rounds of 70 and 75, and defending champion D.A. Points, who carded a 74 Friday.

Other notable scores included a 78 by 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman, and a 79 by three-time major winner Padraig Harrington. Each player opened with 3-under 69s.

Also on the outside looking in is 2014 Texas Open winner Steven Bowditch, who recorded rounds of 71 and 78.

After opening with an 80 on Thursday, Dustin Johnson withdrew later that evening. The South Carolinian didn't give a reason for pulling out. Also withdrawing for undetermined reasons before the second round were Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and South Korea's Seung-Yul Noh.

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