Fernandez vaults into lead with 64

Vicente Fernandez came within a stroke of matching the lowest round in U.S. Senior Open history on Friday, blistering the Inverness Club with a seven-under-par 64 to take a one shot lead over Tom Watson.

The 57-year-old Argentine recorded the lowest second round in tournament history, going bogey-free on a windy day to enjoy three-hole stretches of four-under and three-under on each side.

"I was confident that I could shoot par or under today," he said, "but not 64, no."

Fernandez has a two-round total of five-under 137, one better than first-round leader Watson, who followed a 66 with a 72.

Bruce Lietzke is third at two-under 140, with Allen Doyle another stroke back.

Fuzzy Zoeller is the only player in the field at par midway through the second of five majors on the senior tour.

To put Fernandez's day in perspective, only six other players had sub-par rounds, and they combined to shoot nine-under.

With the wind and rough up and the greens tricky as ever, there were 42 scores in the 80s and one in the 90s.

"It was just a fight out there," Doyle said, although Fernandez saw it a little differently after five birdies and an eagle.

He credited soft greens that were hammered by torrential rain on Thursday.

"It was easier to hold the ball on the green if you hit it in the fairway," he said. "It is easy."

A four-time winner on the Champions Tour, Fernandez is seeking his first career major victory, having placed third or better five times in 28 attempts.

He thinks the tour owes him one.

"I would like to win one because I think the majors owe me at least one on the Senior Tour," he said.

Fernandez tied for seventh at the first one of the season, the Senior PGA Championship, three weeks ago in his most recent start.

The big difference for Watson was an iron game that prevented him from using a magical putter to his advantage.

After making four birdie putts of at least 25 feet on Thursday, his only two in the second round were from eight and 15 feet.

"I did put the ball in the fairway, but I didn't get the ball very close to the hole," Watson said. "That was my problem."

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