Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia fired away a six-under-par 64 to surge into lead following the second round of the US PGA tour's penultimate playoff event as Adam Scott tried to rescue a struggling Australian tilt.
Garcia rocketed up to eight-under overall at the BMW Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club to open up a one-shot lead over American Ryan Palmer.
Palmer matched Garcia's 64 to ensure he sits second alone while world number one Rory McIlroy carded his second straight 67 tie for third with the United States' Billy Horschel (66) at six-under, Stuff.co.nz reported.
Scott came home with a wet sail to shoot a 66 and rescue the Australian tilt, sitting five off the pace in a tie for eighth at three-under. He rode a rollercoaster of birdies and bogeys on his opening nine with three of each before four birdies in his last nine allowed the Queenslander a glimmer of hope with two rounds remaining.
John Senden also provided a small spark with a 66 of his own but at one-under for the tournament, he remains a distant seven shots off the pace. The remaining Australians are well back and need miracles to compete over the weekend.
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Jason Day, who struggled with a back complaint in the opening round but had been cleared of any serious issues via an MRI, was nonetheless unable to continue after nine holes and withdrew from the event.
Day had been struggling at three-over on his round and decided to try to protect himself for next week's season-ending tour championship, although his participation at East Lake is still uncertain. He said that he is extremely disappointed to have to pull out of this event.
Day said that he would be getting treatment over the next few days and hopefully be ready for the Tour Championship.
The season is all but over for Marc Leishman (+3), Matt Jones (+6) and Steven Bowditch (+9) as they needed to finish inside the top four to advance, the report added.
