Holder Casey and American Cook share Valspar lead

FLORIDA: Early starters Paul Casey and Austin Cook survived after a costly finish by one-time leader Luke Donald to earn a onestroke advantage in Florida’s Valspar Championship on Friday.

Englishman Casey, the defending champion, shot 66 and American Cook 67 to hold onto the joint lead on six-under 136 after the second round at Palm Harbor, Florida.

Donald, who played behind compatriot Casey and 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).

Lurking another shot back was top-ranked Dustin Johnson, whose second consecutive 69 left the American in a three-way tie for sixth with Australian Curtis Luck (68) and first-round coleader Joel Dahmen (72).

Casey put together an eagle, four birdies and a bogey at his last hole, the ninth, before the Florida breezes kicked up and the greens became more tricky.

“I’ve never (successfully) defended a professional event,” he told Golf Channel.

Cook turned to a new putter and liked the results as he recorded five birdies and a bogey.

“Something as simple as changing a putter can make a big difference sometimes,” he told PGA Tour Radio.