By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Play was suspended midway through Friday's second round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial due to dangerous weather conditions.

Lightning and thunderstorms caused tournament officials to bring in the players from the course at 1:18 p.m. ET (12:18 p.m. ET).

Graham DeLaet is the current leader at 9 under. The Canadian shot a 3-under 67 on Friday morning.

Josh Teater and Jordan Spieth are in the clubhouse at 8 under. Past Colonial champ Steve Flesch is also at 8 under through 15 holes.

Ryan Palmer, the first-round leader, has yet to begin his second round. He was scheduled to tee off at 2:28 p.m. ET.

Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner are paired again at Colonial (Halleran/Getty Images)

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Seeing Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner paired together at a PGA TOUR event has become a familiar scene. Especially at Colonial.

A year ago at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, Johnson and Dufner were paired in the final two rounds of what essentially turned into match play for the title, as the two separated themselves from the rest of the field. Johnson eventually claimed his second title at Colonial, with Dufner finishing second.

This week, they are playing the first two rounds together, along with last week's winner of the HP Byron Nelson Championship, Sang-Moon Bae. The threesome tees off Friday at 1:33 p.m. ET.

"I totally enjoy it," Johnson, who opened his title defense with a 1-under 69, said about playing with Dufner. "We've always gotten along very, very well. We kind of went through the ranks together from the Web.com to the TOUR."

Said Dufner, who started with a 3-under 67: "It's always good playing with Zach."

Last year's Colonial weekend served as the first of many pairings for Johnson and Dufner the rest of the year. Because of their proximity to each other in FedExCup points during the Playoffs last year, they were paired in the first two rounds at the Deutsche Bank Championship, the first two rounds of the BMW Championship and the first round of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.

Then, of course, they were teammates on the U.S. squad at the Ryder Cup. They won both of their foursomes matches and lost one four-ball match.

Thursday was the first time they had been paired together this year.

"We're pretty familiar with each other's games," Dufner said. "We kind of play a similar game, so it's kind of easy to club off and kind of see how the course is playing."

Said Johnson: "I'd say his ballstriking is a little more consistent than mine overall, but for the most part, we're both pretty consistent."

Having played against and alongside Dufner for the past year, Johnson has come to appreciate his stoic nature.

"He plays very a-motional golf, I would say," Johnson said. "I like that. I like watching it. I like being around that.

"Plus, he's a good friend."

JOHNSON-DUFNER PAIRINGS SINCE 2012

JOHNSON-DUFNER AT 2012 RYDER CUP

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Josh Teater and Boo Weekley had the hottest starts in Friday morning's second round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial but have encountered problems on their final nine holes.

Teater, starting his round off the 10th tee, birdied six of his first 10 holes and had moved to 11 under for the tournament. But he bogeyed the third, sixth and eighth holes after making the turn and is now 8 under with one hole remaining.

Playing partner Weekley birdied seven of his first 11 holes and was 10 under at that point. But he double bogeyed the par-4 fifth and bogeyed the seventh and eighth to fall to 7 under.

Jordan Spieth, the 19-year-old from Dallas, is 3 under on his round and 8 under.

Jim Furyk is 4 under on his round and 5 under for the tournament through 13 holes.

Rickie Fowler, Charl Schwartzel and Angel Cabrera are on the course and are 2 under for the tournaments.

The cut line is currently projected at 1 under.

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Patrick Cantlay was forced to withdraw with a back injury during Friday's second round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Cantlay had just bogeyed the par-4 seventh, his third bogey of the day, before deciding to withdraw. He shot a 5-over 75 in Thursday's opening round and was 8 over for the tournament when he withdrew.

Cantlay, playing on a sponsor's exemption, was making just his sixth start on the PGA TOUR this year, and his first in two months. He's a regular member of the Web.com Tour and is currently sixth on the money list.

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Here are a few notable players to watch Friday afternoon in the second round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. TV coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel

Zach Johnson (1:33 p.m. ET): The defending champ started off with a 1-under 69, the 16 time in his last 17 rounds at Colonial he's shot in the 60s.

Jason Dufner (1:33 p.m. ET): Last year's runner-up opened with 67 on Thursday. A year ago, he shot 64 in the second round.

Sang-Moon Bae (1:33 p.m. ET): Last week's winner of the HP Byron Nelson Championship had a nice first round going until he double bogeyed his last hole to finish with a 69.

Matt Kuchar (1:44 p.m. ET): Among six players who opened with a 65, which tied for his lowest career round here.

Ryan Palmer (2:28 p.m. ET): The first-round leader and Colonial member opened with a 62, tying for the lowest first round in tournament history.

Morgan Hoffmann (2:50 p.m. ET): Shot a bogey-free first round 64 in his first look at Colonial.

Amanda Balionis and Bill Rosinski with SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio preview the second round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial from Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH -- Ryan Palmer and John Rollins live about a mile apart from each other in nearby Colleyville, a suburb near DFW Airport. They are members at Colonial Country Club and have played several rounds together.

And now they're dominating the top of the leaderboard after Thursday's first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Palmer shot an 8-under 62 in the morning, and Rollins followed with a 63 in the afternoon, claiming the top two spots after 18 holes. Four players -- Morgan Hoffman; Canadians David Hearn and Graham DeLaet; and John Peterson, the latter having grown up on this course when his family had a membership -- were another shot back at 64.

No dues-paying member of Colonial has won the Crowne Plaza Invitational since the last of Ben Hogan's five wins in 1959. Palmer or Rollins could follow in Hogan's footsteps this week.

"I think it's pretty cool," Rollins said. "It would be fun if we could fast forward this to Sunday."

Palmer actually plays more golf at Colonial than does Rollins does.

"I think he is a pretty permanent fixture in the men's group," Rollins said. "... I know a lot of people know that Ryan is a member. A lot of people may not know that I'm a member here. Hopefully by the end of the week they will."

Neither has enjoyed much success in their previous starts here.

Palmer's best finish in nine starts was his tie for fifth a year ago -- he's only top-10 finish. Rollins has missed the cut in seven of his 10 starts, his best finish a tie for 24th in 2007.

But Palmer's 62 ties for the lowest opening-round score in tournament history. Rollins' 63 was his best round at Colonial by four strokes.

Palmer visualizes his name on the Wall of Champions on the first tee.

"This is what I dream about when I play here every year," Palmer said. "This is the one tournament I gear up for the most."

Rollins is now visualizing a duel with Palmer on the back nine Sunday.

"I hope I come out on top," Rollins said.

Of course, there's a long ways to go, and the leaderboard behind Palmer and Rollins is crowded.

Besides the four players at 64, six more players are at 65, including 19-year-old Dallas native Jordan Spieth. In all, 38 players are within five shots of Palmer's lead.

Hoffmann comes off a tie for fifth at last week's HP Byron Nelson Championship, the best finish of his rookie year. He shot a pair of 66s on the weekend and the momentum obviously carried over to Thursday's first round.

"Last week was a big confidence booster," Hoffmann said.

Defending champion Zach Johnson shot a 1-under 69, as did last week's winner, Sang-Moon Bae, who double bogeyed his final hole.

"It's a fairly solid day," Johnson said. "A day I didn't shoot myself out of it."

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Strong Texas winds usually provide Colonial with its main defense against PGA TOUR pros each year. In Thursday's first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, the winds barely made their presence felt.

What followed was a bevy of red numbers.

Ryan Palmer tied for the lowest opening round in tournament history with an 8-under 62 to lead the assault on Colonial. Eighty-eight of the 135-man field managed par or better. Scoring conditions were ideal.

"This probably the most docile I have seen Colonial," said Daniel Summerhays, making his third start in this event and starting strong with a 65. "Usually the wind is really going."

"I think we got pretty lucky," said Canadian Graham DeLaet after his 6-under 64 in the afternoon. "The wind really didn't kick up too hard and you kind of expect low scoring out here if you can just keep the ball in play and make a few putts."

Added Matt Every after his 65 in the morning: "There was enough wind to know it was there, but not, you know, nothing crazy."

Even in the afternoon, the winds didn't pick up as expected. Plus, the sun rarely appeared, preventing the greens from firming up.

"We actually caught a good break in the afternoon with the cloud cover and the wind staying down," said 19-year-old Texan Jordan Spieth after his 65.

But don't expect those breaks to remain in effect for all four rounds.

"Today is the day to get it," Tommy Gainey said after a 65. "I feel like the wind is going to pick up the next few days. When you play this golf course and when the wind picks up, you're happy with par."

Zach Johnson didn't play his best round but held it together for a 69. (Halleran/Getty Images)

By Fred Albers, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The best moment of the first round was a quiet exchange between caddie and player in the ninth fairway. Ryan Palmer had hit a 303-yard drive on his final hole and followed that up with a wedge to 5 feet. His caddie, James Edmondson, whispered, “Make that putt and you’ll tie my course record.”

Edmondson is a Colonial member and three-time club champion. With Edmondson's encouragement, Palmer made the putt for an 8-under 62. He knows the course so well, Palmer was not afraid to hit driver on most holes and knew his numbers so well, he never needed to look at his yardage book.

Observations

Frustrated: Zach Johnson seemed ready to make his move. He was 1 under and had 98 yards into the sixth green. Johnson pushed his sandwedge 10 yards right of the hole, into a bunker and made bogey enroute to a 69. It was such a bad shot, I wondered if Johnson had been in a divot. “Not a bad lie, just a bad swing,” was his answer. Frequently this season, Johnson seems ready for a charge that doesn’t materialize. He says a “lack of fundamentals” is the problem and while Johnson did not elaborate, he could be referring to his putting.

Johnson ranked eighth and 11th in strokes gained-putting the last two seasons but is 101st this year. He has always had an unusual address position while putting, with his hands even with -- or even slightly behind -- the golf ball. Johnson worked hard last season in getting his hands slightly forward at address but they appear to be even with the ball this year.

Inconsistent: Jason Dufner has had plenty of good rounds this year but has not had a good tournament. He has yet to post a top-10 finish and it’s puzzling. Dufner ranks 72nd in FedExCup points and is 47th in scoring average at 70.857. Dufner has struggled on the weekend, ranking 115th in third-round scoring and 165th in the final round. When a player consistently struggles, he knows he has to make changes. Dufner shows flashes of great play and then fluctuates. That is very frustrating for the player because the game keeps teasing him into thinking everything is fine and he doesn’t know whether to make changes or stay the course.

Color coordinated: Daniel Summerhays knows why he shot 65 in the opening round. Part of it was due to taking 23 putts and making nine birdies while averaging a tournament leading 1.182 putts per green. Those are all good reasons, but Summerhays wanted to talk about his clothing. He wore an orange shirt with gray pants and Summerhays says every time he wears that color combination he plays well. In fact, Summerhays says he might wash the shirt just so he can wear it again this week. If Summerhays keeps taking just 23 putts per round, it won’t matter what color combination he wears.

Let it fly: Colonial is known as a golf course for shot makers. The theory is you play for position off the tee, sacrificing distance for accuracy. Matt Every had a different plan and went with driver more than most other players. Every hit only eight fairways but averaged 302 yards off the tee. It led to a 5-under 65. Every reasoned a cool spring has lead to sparse bermuda rough and the course is not as punishing as it has been in the past.

Fred Albers is a course reporter for SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio. For more information on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio, click here.

Watch John Rollins roll in a birdie putt at the 18th hole Thursday.

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas -- John Rollins rolled in his longest putt of the day, a birdie putt just inside 22 feet, to cap off a 7-under 63 in Thursday's first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

That puts him just one stroke off the lead held by Ryan Palmer, who shot 62 from a morning tee time. Both players are members at Colonial.

Rollins produced the low round of any player teeing off in the afternoon.

The three-time TOUR winner is making his 11th start in this event but has rarely experienced much success at Colonial. He's missed the cut seven times and his best finish is a tie for 24th in 2007.

The 63 is his best round at Colonial by four strokes.

Click below to listen to Rollins discuss his round with SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio's Bill Rosinski.