Scott builds on fast start to lead in Texas
IRVING, Texas (Reuters) - Adam Scott fired four consecutive birdies to start his second round as the Australian forged a one-stroke lead at the Byron Nelson Championship on Friday.
Seeking his first win of the 2008 season, the world number 10 fired a three-under-par 67 for a five-under total of 135 in calm, sunny conditions at the TPC Las Colinas course.
Scott holds the narrowest of advantages over fellow Australians Mark Hensby (67), Mathew Goggin (69) and American Scott McCarron (66) in a tie for second.
"I feel like I've been playing good but it's just a matter of putting four days together," Scott told reporters.
"I think I should be winning more but it's not easy to win out here. It's nothing like people think."
Scott, who began his round at the 10th hole, followed his four-birdie start with a bogey five at the 14th.
He picked up another stroke at the fourth before bogeying his penultimate hole.
"That's why I came back (from Australia) because I was playing well and didn't want to waste it," Scott said of his stellar early play.
IMMELMAN OUT
Scott's best finish from five previous PGA Tour appearances this year was a tie for ninth at last month's WGC-CA Championship in Miami.
He has five PGA Tour victories to his name, the most recent coming at last year's Houston Open.
Texas native Justin Leonard (66) was tied for fifth on 137 with fellow Americans Ryan Moore (70), Parker McLachlin (69), Charlie Hoffman (68) and Roland Thatcher (68)
Masters champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa missed the 36-hole cut with rounds of 78 and 75 in his first tournament since his triumph at Augusta.
Hensby said he had struggled with his game and confidence over the last year, so his second round 67 after an opening 69 were a welcome change of form.
"I haven't been playing very good, not much has been happening really but it's good to see two rounds like this," Hensby said.
The Australian managed only one top-10 finish in 2007 with a second-place performance in the penultimate event of the year enough to keep his playing rights for this campaign.
He opened with bogeys on two of his first three holes before rallying with four birdies and no dropped shots over the final nine holes.
Goggin, who was tied for the lead after the first round, got off to a slow start and was four shots off the lead after his first nine holes but rallied with a pair of birdies on the back nine.
(Editing by John O'Brien)
