• Byron Nelson Championship, Round Two

Garcia bounds into Texas lead

Sergio Garcia was on red-hot form in Texas © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Overton stars with an error-free 64
  
• Profile: Sergio Garcia | Dustin Johnson

Leaderboard

Just days after withdrawing from a qualifying event for The Open, Sergio Garcia showed no signs of ailment as he stormed into a joint share of the lead at the Byron Nelson Championship in Texas.

Garcia pulled out after four holes with an infected fingernail on Monday, but the Spaniard, who has dropped to 73rd in the world rankings, recovered from an early bogey to card a second consecutive 66 in his second round on Friday.

A win at the Four Seasons Resort would see the Spaniard climb back into the world's top 50 and secure a place in the third major of the year at Royal St George's in Kent.

Back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth holes set the tone for Garcia's round, and the former world No. 2 maintained his charge, picking up further shots at seven, 11 and 15.

Garcia holds a share of the lead with local favourite, Ryan Palmer, who charged into an early lead; his second-round 67 enough to see him establish a four-stroke cushion heading into the clubhouse. But he was reeled in by Garcia, who joins him on eight-under-par.

The pair are three strokes clear of Tim Petrovic, while Nick Watney is on four-under, level with Joe Ogilvie and Chad Collins.

Overnight leader Jeff Overton failed to build on his sparkling opening-round 64 as he faded with a second-round 74. Bogeys on his last two holes saw Overton slip to two-under-par.

Amateur Jordan Spieth made the cut at Nelson for a second consecutive year. The 17-year-old shot a two-under 68 on Friday to move to three-under for the tournament.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.