Garcia surges to early Deutsche Bank lead

Sergio Garcia swooped for an eagle at the final hole on Saturday to seize the early second-round lead at the $8 million Deutsche Bank Championship. The Spaniard rolled in an 18-footer for eagle at the 18th, erasing the taste of his only mis-step of the day, a double-bogey on the par-four 14th. Prior to that he carded seven birdies and was in the clubhouse with a one-stroke lead on 13-under 129. His closest rival in the clubhouse was American Roberto Castro, whose second straight 65 included an eagle on the par-five second hole. Garcia said he considered skipping the tournament, the second of four events in the US tour's season-ending playoffs, but wanted to solidify his place in the playoff points standings, especially after some disappointing showings in August. Garcia came into the week at 59th in the playoff standings, with 70 due to advance to the third event, the BMW Championship, in two weeks and only 30 making the Tour Championship. "We decided to come here and make a little bit of an extra effort of playing obviously five weeks in a row, which I don't usually enjoy very much," Garcia said. American Matt Kuchar was in the clubhouse on 132 after his second successive 66, while England's US Open champion Justin Rose completed a sparkling 63 for 133. Overnight co-leader Phil Mickelson was nine-under for the tournament through 10 holes. England's Brian Davis, who shared the overnight lead with British Open winner Mickelson, couldn't replicate the magic of his bogey-free first-round 63, carding a one-over 72 that left him six shots off the pace. Source: AFP