Mammoth Blog

From its Ben Hogan trophy room to its status as the longest-running event at its original site, the Colonial Country Club is among the most venerable stops on the PGA Tour.

This week, it's playing like a pitch-and-putt.

With the wind hardly blowing and greens pillow-soft, Steve Stricker followed an opening-round 63 with another Friday morning, giving him the 36-hole record and a comfortable lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

Stricker's 14-under 126 total broke the previous mark by two strokes.

"I'd rather have the trophy," he said. "We're only halfway through. I'd like to keep making putts. That solves a lot of problems."

Kenny Perry set the midway record in 2005, on his way to a 72-hole record of 261. That, too, might fall unless the wind picks up or the sun starts baking the greens.

"I kind of like what's going on now," Stricker said, smiling.

Woody Austin and Tim Clark also shot 63s on Thursday, but only Stricker played in the afternoon. That meant he was among the morning groups Friday, and picked up where he left off with an opening birdie.

His first bogey of the tournament came at No. 15, but he closed with two more birdies and a score for all the afternoon starters to envy.

"It was a lot of fun - again," Stricker said.

Ryan Palmer also shot a second-round 63, putting him at 8-under 132. He's one stroke ahead of Luke Donald (65) and Paul Casey (67), who is in his first tournament since vaulting to No. 3 in the world rankings. source>>>