CROMWELL, Conn. - Brian Harman shot a 4-under-par 66 to move to 10 under at the Travelers Championship, then watched that hold up for the second-round lead - thanks in part to a 10-second rule.
Harman was a stroke ahead of fellow former University of Georgia standout Russell Henley (65), Zach Johnson (68) and Matt Jones (66) at TPC River Highlands. Johnson, who had shared the first-round lead with Jordan Spieth, lost a stroke during Friday's round when his birdie putt hung on the lip of the third hole for longer than the maximum allowed 10 seconds before falling in, giving him a par.
"After 10 seconds, the ball was moving, and at that point even if the ball is moving, it's deemed to be at rest because it's on the lip," Johnson said. "Don't ask me why, but that's just the way it is."
Harman had his short game working for the second consecutive day, taking 26 putts after needing only 23 during the first round.
"The putter has been really good so far, but I've been in position a lot," Harman said. "I've had a lot of good looks at it. I'm just able to put a little pressure on the course right now, which is nice."
Jones enjoyed similar success as he hit 16 of 18 greens for the second consecutive day.
Paul Casey (67), Bryson DeChambeau (66) and Beau Hossler (67) were two strokes back going into the weekend.
But Johnson, who started on the 10th tee, had the day's most interesting round, which included just two birdies but one amazing par save. He hit the ball into the signature lake on the 17th hole, dropped across the water near the 16th tee box, then put his third shot within eight feet of the hole from 234 yards away.
"You can't hit that shot and then not make that putt," Johnson said. "It felt good to get away with that four. That's as good an up-and-down as I've ever witnessed or performed."
Lanto Griffin and two-time Travelers winner Bubba Watson, another former Bulldog, were at par coming into Friday, but each shot a 63 to move into contention heading into the weekend. They were three shots out of the lead and tied for eighth in a group that included Rory McIlroy (69).
Watson jump-started his round with an eagle on his third hole, the par-5 13th. He was grouped with McIlroy and second-ranked Justin Thomas (69), who was tied for 17th at 5 under.
Spieth (73), the tournament's 2017 champion, was tied for 25th at 4 under after a round that included both a triple bogey on the par-5 13th and an eagle on the par-5 sixth. Brooks Koepka (69), who is coming off his second straight U.S. Open victory, was tied for 24th at 3 under.
The cut was at 2 under, and Masters winner Patrick Reed (67), who finished fourth at the U.S. Open, missed it by a shot.
Former Baylor School golfer Keith Mitchell (68), who has earned $1,236,773 in his rookie season on the PGA Tour, made the cut on the number and was tied for 53rd. The two other former Red Raiders in the field were not able to stick around - Luke List (67) was off by a stroke, with Harris English (80) near the bottom of the leaderboard at 8 over.
Host happy so far
MADISON, Wis. - Steve Stricker made himself at home atop the leaderboard on a rainy and breezy day at the American Family Insurance Championship.
The hometown star and tournament host shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Brad Bryant in the PGA Tour Champions event. Because of the wet conditions at University Ridge Golf Club, the players were allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairways.
John Daly, Steve Flesch and Colin Montgomerie were tied for third at 67.
The 51-year-old Stricker, who is splitting time between the PGA Tour and the 50-and-older circuit, had his 30th consecutive Champions round under par. It's the fourth-longest streak in tour history.
Stricker won in Arizona and Mississippi in consecutive starts in May for his first senior victories. The 12-time PGA Tour winner played that tour the past two weeks, tying for 18th in Memphis and sharing 20th in the U.S. Open.
Lopez up early
ROGERS, Ark. - Former University of Arkansas star Gaby Lopez shot an 8-under 63, her career low on the LPGA Tour, to take the first-round lead in the NW Arkansas Championship.
Lopez, a three-time All-American for the Razorbacks, matched her best by finishing at 8 under. The 24-year-old Mexican golfer began the tournament at Pinnacle Country Club ranked 136th in the world after missing the cut in her past two events, but she finished the day just two shots off the course record of 10 under in her third year on tour.
Seven golfers were tied for second: Aditi Ashok, Nasa Hataoka, Moriya Jutanugarn, Minjee Lee, Mirim Lee, Catriona Matthew and Lizette Salas.
So Yeon Ryu, the 2017 tournament winner who is coming off a victory at Meijer LPGA Classic, shot a 67 and was tied for 30th.
Hend takes lead
COLOGNE, Germany - Scott Hend made four birdies and an eagle for a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead midway through the European Tour's BMW International Open.
Hend, who had just one bogey in the second round, made his eagle on the par-4 15th hole at Golf Club Gut Laerchenhof. The 44-year-old Australian, a former PGA Tour player, shaved four strokes off his first-round score to move up 11 spots and was at 6-under 138 overall.
Nico Geyger (69) and Henric Sturehed (70) were tied for second, and five golfers were another stroke back, including two-time major winner Martin Kaymer (68), who is trying to win this European Tour event in his home country for the second time. Also tied for fourth were Nick Cullen (68), first-round leader Sebastien Gros (72), Maximilian Kieffer (69) and Aaron Rai (71).