Watney and Stricker take up the running

US PGA TOUR: Nick Watney and Steve Stricker, both of whom have finished runner-up to Phil Mickelson in the past month, took advantage of the world number two having a week off by moving into the early second round lead at the Transitions Championship in Florida today.

And they did it in identical fashion, keeping a bogey off their cards and improving two strokes on their opening rounds of 69 to be six-under par at halfway at the Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead course.

First round leader Jim Furyk was among the later starters but he bogeyed the third to drop into the group on five-under.

Watney was second to Mickelson at last week’s WGC-CA Championship, while Stricker bogeyed the last hole to lose by one as well at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.

Stricker, who birdied three of his last six holes today, said: “I didn’t putt particularly well, but I didn’t have a blemish on the scorecard, which is always a good thing, especially around here.

“I made some dumb mistakes yesterday and I tried to clean that up today and I did. Every year, I think for everybody, you enter into the year with a lot of unknowns and you’re not sure how your game is going to be.

“But I don’t get spooked nearly as much as I used to. If I do get off to a bad start you’ve just got to kind of shrug it off and move on. That’s what I’ve been doing very well the last four years probably.”

Watney, who had two birdies on each half, commented: “I didn’t get in trouble too often and made a few putts. Hopefully I can keep it going.

“I guess I’m playing very well but it really seems like this is just what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m keeping the game pretty simple and putting well. I think I’m still learning. Last weekend was a new experience for me just to play in the last group with Phil in that kind of atmosphere.

“But I enjoy trying to get better and learning from different situations.”