CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE: Sergio Garcia, who is seeking his first win on the USPGA Tour since 2012, fired a second round six-under 64 to vault into the lead at the BMW Championship.
Garcia won earlier this year at the Qatar Masters on the European Tour but he has not hoisted a trophy in North America since the 2012 Wyndham Open.
The Spaniard finished two rounds at eight-under 132 and he holds a one-stroke lead over American Ryan Palmer at the Cherry Hills Country Club course.
Garcia hasn’t been able to break through this year despite being in the hunt several times. He finished tied for second at the Travelers Championship and the Open. Garcia was also the runner-up at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Palmer shot a 64 yesterday to jump into sole possession of second place at seven-under 133. He is looking for his fourth win on the USPGA Tour.
World number one Rory McIlroy carded his second consecutive 67 and he is tied with Billy Horschel (66) at six-under 134. McIlroy had a share of the first round lead with Jordan Spieth and Gary Woodland.
McIlroy, who is currently number two in the FedExCup play-off standings, beat out Garcia for the Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational titles this season. Chris Kirk (70), the Deutsche Bank Championship winner, is nine shots back at one-over 141. The Barclays tournament winner Hunter Mahan (70) is well back at five-over 145.
Meawhile, Mickelson withdrew from the Championship before the start of the third round, saying he wanted to rest for this month’s Ryder Cup.
By pulling out of the penultimate FedExCup play-off event, world number 10 Mickelson ensured he would miss next week’s finale in Atlanta for the first time in his career.
The American left-hander, a 42-times winner on the PGA Tour, had qualified for the elite Tour Championship every year since the lucrative four-event play-offs were launched in 2007.
“My primary goal is to rest and prepare for the Ryder Cup,” Mickelson, 44, said in a statement released by his management company. AGENCIES
