Byrd joins Sluman in share of lead

Jonathan Byrd shot his second successive five-under-par 66 on Friday and joined Jeff Sluman on top of the leader board after two rounds at the Chrysler Championship.

Byrd and Sluman, who followed his course-record 62 with a one-under 70, are tied at 10-under-par 132.

Tommy Armour III (64), Australian Rod Pampling (65) and world number one Vijay Singh (69) are tied at eight-under 134.

Kent Jones (71), Kirk Triplett (71), Vaughan Taylor (65) and Sweden's Jesper Parnevik (67) are at seven-under 135.

Byrd went out in even par on the Westin Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course, offsetting two birdies with two bogeys then went bogey free over the back nine for the second successive day, while making five birdies -- one of which was on the 18th, winning a wager with his caddie.

"I win if I make birdie, and if I don't, he wins," said Byrd of the wager that began at the 84 Lumber Classic. "I think I made two birdies on 18 at 84 Lumber."

Byrd, who had minor hip surgery earlier this year and missed six weeks, said he had sat down with his coach and caddie to reassess his game after finishing third at the 84 Lumber.

"I think winning is somewhat secondary for me this week," said Byrd, 26, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour.

"(They) just really wanted to impress on me that my demeanor needed to get better on the golf course; not that I was making a fool of myself, but when you get down ...and get frustrated, you make it harder on yourself.

"Since then I've been really focusing on getting through those periods where you have little funks during a round, and then just to have more fun on the golf course.

"When I do that, I play good golf."

Sluman was unable to distance himself from the field, posting a round that had two birdies and a bogey.

"I had numerous opportunities to make at least a half a dozen birdies, and today I just didn't make them," he said.

"I guess that's kind of the way it goes. I'm not going to complain about it. I'm still in a good position, and we'll see what happens on the weekend."

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