The Daily Wrap-up, Round 2: FBR Open

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Nick Watney owns a one-shot lead after shooting a second-round 63 on Friday at the FBR Open.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- On a day local favorite Phil Mickelson missed the projected cut by seven strokes, Nick Watney shot an 8-under 63 to take the second-round lead at the FBR Open on Friday.

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Play was called due to darkness with three players, all above the cut line, still on the course.

At 9 under through two rounds, Watney had a one-stroke lead over Charley Hoffman, Matt Kuchar and first-round co-leader James Nitties. Kenny Perry and Cameron Beckman were two shots back.

"I was hitting the ball close, and I kept telling my caddie just to get me on the green any way and I felt like I could hole it," Watney said.

He matched his career-low round, a first-round 63 in the 2008 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He tied for 36th that week.

Watney entered Friday five strokes off the lead but roared into contention with two eagles in a three-hole span. The first came on the par-5, 595-yard 13th hole and the second on the par-5, 552-yard 15th.

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MOORE ADDING SUBSTANCE TO HIS STYLE
By Bill Huffman, Special to PGATOUR.COM

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- In a world where corporate logos and sponsorships of all sorts adorn every player's cap, shirt and bag, Ryan Moore looks more like a weekend hacker rather than a member of the PGA TOUR.

From head to toe, there's not one speck of sponsorship on him. Even Moore's bag is as plain as yours or mine, a simple kelly green-and-blue leather bag he ordered off the Internet because, "it's kind of Seahawks colors, and I'm from the Seattle area.''

That doesn't explain why Moore has been wearing, for the most part, button-down shirts and ties this season. Nor does it clear up why Moore is wearing what looks like tennis shoes into competition rather than traditional golf spikes.

But the new and different appearance certainly is drawing a lot of stares and finger-pointing, as well as lots of questions from the media.

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Friday's Best

EASIEST HOLE TOUGHEST HOLE The par-5 13th hole was the easiest with a scoring average of 4.555. EAGLES: 7 BIRDIES: 53 PARS: 59 BOGEYS: 8 OTHERS: 1 The par-3 7th hole was the toughest with a scoring average of 3.297. EAGLES: 0 BIRDIES: 6 PARS: 81 BOGEYS: 38 OTHERS: 3

SHOT OF THE DAY ROUND OF THE DAY In danger of missing the cut, Kevin Streelman chipped in for eagle on the par-4 17th to secure a spot on the weekend. Watch his shot Nick Watney had two eagles and four birdies in a round 8-under 63 that gave him a one-shot lead. Check out his scorecard

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I listened to [Pat Perez's] interview last week and I guess you have to have a kid or get married to win out here, so I have one of those criteria, so hopefully I play good on the weekend and we have back-to-back wins." -- Charley Hoffman, who, like last week's winner Pat Perez, got married in the off-season.

INSIDE THE ROPES WITH THE PGA TOUR NETWORK
PGA TOUR Network correspondent Fred Albers offers these observations from Friday's action. Listen to PGA TOUR Live coverage on XM 146/SIRIUS 209 or right here at PGATOUR.com.

NIck Watney putted his way to the lead at the FBR Open with an unusual practice technique. He places his left hand in the hip pocket of his pants and holds the putter solely in his right hand, making repeated one-handed strokes. Watney says the drill helps him with distance control and releasing the head of the putter. Results say it's working. Watney is 9 under.

Billy Mayfair missed the cut shooting back-to-back rounds of 77, but he still had his share of fun. Just before playing the par-3 16th, the Arizona native slipped on an Arizona Cardinals jersey and the gallery cheered in approval. Mayfair received another ovation when he made a 5-foot par putt on the hole.

Charlie Hoffman had a special fan in his gallery. Hoffman's mother, Lizzie, walked all 18 holes with her son in the Arizona heat. She plans on making the same trek with her son on Saturday when he will play in the final group and says she might try to sneak under the ropes to get a better view. Viewing space will be at a premium this weekend when 250,000 fans are expected to attend the final rounds.

What the top finishers said...

Player Position Score Comment Nick Watney 1 9 under "I definitely didn't play as well as I would have liked [last year], but I think I learned a lot from that. I would say if I had to pinpoint one thing, I putted very poorly the second half of the year last year, so that was my focus this winter." Charley Hoffman T2 8 under "I just want to keep hitting fairways. I think the key out here this week is to hit fairways and give yourself a chance to hit some wedges close and hopefully make a few birdies. That's all my plan is right now." Matt Kuchar T2 8 under "It's funny, I was planning on not playing here. I was hitting the ball very well at Sony, very well last week at the Hope, and it kind of was a last-minute commitment. I was supposed to be skiing this week. I said, I'm going to postpone the ski trip, play here, and I'm awfully glad I made that decision." James Nitties T2 8 under "I said to my caddie afterwards, 'Weekends are sweet.' You know, I've been playing well, so it was about time, and to be near the lead is even better."

Read full interview transcripts

Nick Watney Charley Hoffman Matt Kuchar James Nitties Full archive

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SECOND-ROUND NOTEBOOK: FBR OPEN
By Mark Stevens, PGA TOUR Staff

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Due to darkness, play was stopped at 6:10 p.m. Three players did not complete Round 2. Play to finish the second round will resume at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning. There are currently 71 players at even-par 142. The cut will come Saturday morning at the completion of the second round.

• At 8 a.m. on Friday, nine players returned to the course to complete the first-round and finished at 8:39 a.m. The second-round started as scheduled at 7:40 a.m.

• In 395 rounds as a professional, Nick Watney has led or held a share of the lead eight times. In his only win on TOUR at the 2007 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Watney led after 54 holes and maintained his lead to beat Ken Duke by three strokes. He also went on to tie for fifth at the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Championship, tied for 42nd at the 2007 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, finished sixth at the 2006 Wyndham Championship and tied for 39th at the 2005 Buick Open.

• Watney tied his third-best 36-hole score today, with rounds of 70-63 for a total of 133. He shot his second 63 of the 2009 season today and the third of his career. Watney shot 63 in the fourth round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic last week and in 2008 at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. His round Friday included a pair of eagles on No. 13 and No. 15.

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