Toms on track to defend title

Defending champion David Toms carded his best round of the year – an eight-under-par 63 – to take a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis.

Toms, at 16th in the world, is the highest-ranked player in the field but the former USPGA champion has fallen out of the top 10 because of a wrist injury and continued to struggle last week, finishing 44th at the Colonial.

However, the TPC at Southwind seems to bring out the best in Toms, who completed 36 holes at 12-under on 130.

Held in May for the first time since 1976, the event features none of the top 10 money winners and only four 2004 tournament winners.

Toms is a stroke in front of first-round leader Vaughn Taylor, who shot a 65.

Ben Crane is five shots back and John Daly is in a group of golfers six strokes off the pace.

Daly, at 15th, is the top money winner participating in the event.

After a morning rain left the greens soft, Toms was able to take full advantage as he had a bogey-free round that included an eagle and six birdies.

He got off to a blistering start, with a birdie at the par-four second hole and – for the second straight day – an eagle at the par-five third.

Taylor, who earned a spot on Tour this year by finishing 11th on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2003, is in the uncharted territory of contention after a bogey-free round that included six birdies.