NORTON, Mass. – There was only a touch of irony in the fact that had Sergio Garcia played better at the PGA Championship or WGC-Bridgestone Invitational he probably wouldn’t be at TPC Boston this week, where he pulled into the lead with a second-round 64 on Saturday.
The Deutsche Bank Championship is the Spaniard’s fifth consecutive week on Tour, a run that was necessitated by Garcia’s position on the FedEx Cup points list to start the post-season (59th) and his need to play the BMW Championship to secure his minimum number of Tour starts (15) to maintain his membership.
“It was touch and go I was going to make it to the BMW without playing here,” said Garcia of the third playoff event where the top 70 in points advance. “It was an extra effort.”
Garcia, who is currently projected at fourth on the points list, took extra time to relax before the start of this week’s event, spending the day resting in New York City and walking around Central Park with his girlfriend.
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The rest, and added effort, added up to a 13-under total and a one-stroke lead over Roberto Castro through Round 2 play.
Like he did on Thursday, Garcia scorched the front nine at TPC Boston, carding a 31 to pull into the lead. He stumbled at the 14th hole with a double bogey-6, but recovered with a 7-iron from 212 yards at the par-5 18th hole that set up an 18-foot eagle putt.
“I hit it a little longer than I planned to,” Garcia said. “It’s too narrow up there to run it all the way back, but it turned out well.”