Casey and Cook share Valspar lead, Day out

Early starters Paul Casey and Austin Cook are leading the charge at Florida's Valspar Championship, but Australian Jason Day has missed the cut.

By Australian Associated Press
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Early starters Paul Casey and Austin Cook survived after a costly finish by one-time leader Luke Donald to earn a one-stroke advantage in Florida's Valspar Championship, but Aussie Jason Day missed the cut.

Englishman Casey, the defending champion, shot 66 and American Cook 67 to hold onto the joint lead on six-under after the second round at Palm Harbor.

Donald, who played behind compatriot Casey and American Cook, had taken a one-shot lead with four holes to play but two bogeys coming home left him in a three-way tie for third after a scrambling one-under 70.

Level with the former world No.1 at 137 were American Scott Stallings (68) and South Korea's Im Sung-jae (67), with Dustin Johnson one shot back.

"I've never defended a professional event. I would love to do that," Casey said.

"Mentally last year I was hoping I would win, wanting to win. This year, knowing that I have won around here, I have a slightly different approach to it.

"I played today quite aggressively and tried to take advantage of the golf course that I knew was going to get very, very tough this afternoon."

Australian Curtis Luck (68) was tied with Johnson and early leader Joel Dahmen on four-under overall, but star Jason Day is out.

Day ended play at three-over par after producing a second-round even-par 71, cancelling out four birdies with two bogeys and a third-hole double bogey.

The 31-year-old struggled in the opening round with a three-over par 74, hitting five bogeys and two birdies in what was meant to be a test of his Masters credentials, three weeks out from the major.

Compatriot Matt Jones remains alive, sitting on one-under overall, but Aussies John Senden, Rod Pampling and Cameron Davis will go home early.

Scot Russell Knox, tied for third after the first round, barely made the cut after soaring from a 67 on Thursday to a 76 in windy conditions on Friday.


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