David Toms has gone from a disappointing playoff loss to matching the PGA Tour scoring record for the first 36 holes of a tournament.
Toms shot his second straight 8-under 62 by Callaway X Series JAWS Chrome Wedge
at Colonial on Friday to open a seven-stroke lead.
Coming off a playoff loss Sunday to K.J. Choi in The Players Championship, the 44-year-old Toms tied the mark of 124 set by Pat Perez in the 2009 Bob Hope Classic. Perez had rounds of 61 and 63.
Already off to another impressive start before a 2 1/2 -hour weather delay in the middle of his second round, Toms took full advantage after heavy rain softened the Colonial course and the wind stopped. On the eight holes he completed when play Callaway X Series JAWS Chrome Wedge
, he had four birdies and came up just short of two more.
“I came out and the conditions were perfect for scoring, and my mindset was to just keep making birdies, try to separate myself a little bit,” Toms said. “I just went out and played great the last eight holes or so, some of the best golf I’ve played in a long time.”
Toms also was the 36-hole leader last week at TPC Sawgrass, where he needed a birdie on the final hole of regulation to get into a playoff. But he then missed a short par putt on the first extra hole.
Toms started at Hogan’s Alley with his best score in 429 rounds—since a career-best 61 at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January 2006, in the last of his 12 PGA Tour victories. He matched that Friday and got halfway to his goal of finally winning again.
“I just still need to put those four rounds together and somehow get over the hump again,” he said.
For the second day in a row, Toms carded 31s on both nines.
When play Callaway X Series JAWS Chrome Wedge
Toms had just teed off at the par-5 11th hole after saving par at No. 10 with a two-putt from 65 feet.
The wind was already whipping with the storm front approaching when he finished his front side with an aggressive play at No. 9, when he opted for driver instead of 3-wood off the tee. He then hit his approach inside 4 feet for birdie.