Todd Goes Low in Byron Nelson Championship


Brendon Todd fired a 6-under 64 to take the 36-hole lead in the Byron Nelson Championship. The $6.9 million PGA Tour event started Thursday at TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas.

The 28-year-old Todd, a two-time Web.com Tour winner in search of his first title on the PGA Tour, carded seven birdies and a bogey for a total of 8-under 132, two strokes clear of Canada's Graham DeLaet (66) and Mike Weir (66), Germany's Martin Kaymer (67), England's Paul Casey (63), Australia's Marc Leishman (68) and Americans Morgan Hoffman and Tim Herron, who each posted 66s, and Charles Howell III (67).

Casey had the round - and the nine-hole side - of the day. After opening with three bogeys and an eagle on the front half for a 1-over 36, the 36-year-old Brit equaled the PGA Tour record of 27 on a back nine with six birdies and his second eagle of the day. Corey Pavin holds the all-time record of 26 set in the 2006 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.

"The game is in really good shape," Casey said during a TV interview. "It doesn't guarantee good numbers but I'm enjoying playing golf and relishing the challenge every week I'm hitting the ball a long way. I used to hit it a long way and it's been a couple of years since I've done that. I've really struggled."

Three strokes behind Todd are Americans Gary Woodland (67), Ryan Palmer (68) and Boo Weekley (68), and South Africans Retief Goosen (65) and Tyrone VanAswegen (68).

Sharing 15th at 4-under are Americans James Hahn (65) and Matt Kuchar (67), Ireland's Padraig Harrington (68) and South African Louis Oosthuizen (68).

First-round leader Peter Hanson went from a 5-under 65 to a 3-over 73 to drop into a tie for 25th at 2-under 138.

Local favorite Jordan Spieth followed up his opening 70 with a 67 and is at 3-under with five others.

The 36-hole cut was set at 1-over 140. Scottie Scheffler, a 17-year-old amateur from Dallas playing on a sponsor's exemption, made the cut with a 68 and has a two-round total of 1-under 139.

Among those heading home is defending champion Sang-Moon Bae. The South Korean, who moved to the Dallas area a month ago, posted rounds of 73 and 74.

Also missing out on the weekend is David Duval, who had a 66 Thursday but carded a 76 Friday.

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.