By Bill Cooney, PGATOUR.COM ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Bud Cauley didn’t hit his irons as well as he did the previous day at The McGladrey Classic. But he made enough putts and par saves for a second-round, even-par 70 that gave him the early lead at 8-under 132 on Friday at Sea Island Golf Club. Cauley took a one-shot lead over Michael Thompson (68), Brian Gay (68), D.J. Trahan (67) and Chad Campbell (67). He hit the same number of greens (14) as he did in a Round 1 62, but had 33 putts instead of the 24 he needed on Thursday. "I had a few nice up and downs out there and left two putts throughout the 4- or 5-footers for par," Cauley said. "So I'm happy. I would have loved to have shot under par. But even is not too bad, and I'm going to work on the irons a little bit and hopefully I'll be close tomorrow." Thompson, who tied for second at the U.S. Open, held the lead at 9 under until he four-putted the par-3 17th for a double-bogey 5. Thompson three-putted from 3 feet. “Just a little bit of nerves,” Thompson said. “It’s been since the U.S. Open since I’ve been in contention. But then again on these Bermuda greens the rules officials tend to cut the holes right where the grain changes. That always makes it difficult.” “It’s just unfortunate,” Thompson added. “But at the same time I’m right where I need to be.” Cauley finished T15 here last season, picking up enough money to earn non-member status for 2012. He became one of the few players to go right from college to the PGA TOUR without having to go to q-school. He’s had six top 10s and nine top 25s in 2012. And Cauley is excited about the possibility of winning for the first time on the PGA TOUR this weekend. "Yeah. It's going to be a lot of fun," Cauley said. Still half the tournament left, but I'm hitting the ball well and I'm seeing the lines on the greens really well, too. So if I can just get a little bit closer, I think I'll do a little bit better."

By Bill Cooney, PGATOUR.COM ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- In his ninth season on the PGA TOUR, Zach Johnson has put together quite a resume. The 36-year-old Iowa native has nine victories and an incredible 44 top-10 finishes. He's also finished second seven times. In 2009, Johnson won twice -- the Sony Open and Valero Texas Open -- had nine top 10s and finished sixth in the FedExCup standings. In 2007, Johnson won twice -- the Masters and the AT&T Classic -- had a total of five top 10s and finished seventh in the FedExCup standings. But this season might just be his best to date. "Yeah, it's in there," Johnson said after his first-round 65 at The McGladrey Classic on Thursday. "I could probably answer that question better next week." Johnson, who tees of in the second round at 12:35 ET, won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and the John Deere Classic, while taking runner-ups at the RBC Heritage and THE PLAYERS Championship. So far, he's had six top 10s and he finished 12th in the FedExCup standings. BEST SEASONS FOR ZACH JOHNSON

PGA TOUR season	Wins	2nd	Top 10s	FedExCup finish	Earnings
2012	2	2	6	12th	$4.5 million
2009	2	1	9	6th	$4.7 million
2007	2	1	5	7th	$3.9 million

What do you think? Is this Johnson's best season on the PGA TOUR? If not, was it 2007 or 2009?

By Fred Albers, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent

SAN MARTIN, Calif. -- Billy Horschel knows the rules of golf and knew he was entitled to relief. He had driven into a “burrowing animal hole” on the 17th hole. The rules provide for relief and with a free drop, Horschel was able to turn a potential bogey into a birdie. The rules of golf don’t always work against a player; sometimes they work in his favor.

Turf talk: John Mallinger is the California kid. He is from the San Diego area and seems to play well in his home state. He has several good finishes at Pebble Beach and is in contention this week. What’s the secret? Mallinger says he likes the turf in Northern California. It’s a firm surface that surrenders a healthy divot and it reminds him of the turf he grew up on in San Diego.

Green speed: It was a noticeably different golf course in the second round. Thursday’s rain had softened the greens, and no longer was there a giant bounce when golf balls landed. The greens were receptive in the morning and stayed that way throughout the round, so players quickly adjusted and became more aggressive with their approaches.

Putting: Nick O’Hern shot 62 in the opening round using just 23 putts and ranking fifth in strokes gained-putting on Thursday. He did not possess the same touch on Friday. O’Hern took 30 putts in shooting even par and was ranked 13th in SGP. There was nothing discernibly wrong with the strokes -- Nick rolled several balls right past the lip but the cup did not swallow.

Time off: Horschel had not played in a PGA TOUR event since before the FedExCup Playoffs began but it was time well spent. He hired a physical trainer for the first time since high school and is noticeably stronger. Horschel says he has gained swing speed thanks to increased fitness.

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

For the second time this week, a player tied the course record at CordeValle. This time it was John Mallinger, who shot 62 Friday to take a four-shot lead at 14 under halfway through the Frys.com Open.

Mallinger, who has yet to make a bogey this week, made seven birdies and an eagle in the second round. He shot 30 on the back nine and took just 26 putts for a second straight day.

Billy Horschel and Jhonattan Vegas are tied for second at 10 under, while Nicolas Colsaerts is one of three players another stroke back.

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

Billy Horschel has played just once since missing the FedExCup Playoffs.

The time off helped. So did the decision to hire a trainer.

“I've gained a little bit more speed in my swing that I lost when I had my wrist surgery,” said Horschel, who shot a 65 Friday to enter the weekend 10 under and in contention at the Frys.com Open. “I feel fitter and more comfortable with myself.”

He also feels comfortable at CordeValle. Last year, he opened with a 65 there before finishing in a tie for seventh.

Horschel also finished seventh in his only start -- in Boise, on the Web.com Tour -- over the last two months.

Friday, he made seven birdies and just one bogey, closing in 31 with five of his birdies coming over the final seven holes.

“I feel like I've done everything you need to do to finally step into that winner's circle,” said Hoschel, who is using a trainer for the first time since high school. “Obviously a lot of golf still left to play. I can't do anything but go out there and try and play my own game.”