Henry leaves field in his wake

Little-known American JJ Henry left five of the world’s top 10 trailing in his wake with one of the rounds of his life at the FBR Open in Arizona today.

The 30-year-old, in joint seventh place after an opening 67, found himself holding a five-shot lead with four holes of his second round to play.

Henry, yet to win on the US Tour and with two missed cuts out of two this season coming into the event, picked up birdies at the fourth and sixth and and then had six more in a row starting from the ninth.

He stood 12 under par, while David Toms, winner of the Sony Open in Hawaii last month, moved up from 19th to second by covering his first 10 holes in four under.

German Alex Cejka, joint overnight leader with Steve Lowery, led on his own when he birdied his second hole, but as Henry raced past him Cejka bogeyed the long 13th, his fourth, and then the short 16th as well.

World number six Sergio Garcia was involved in a battle to survive the halfway axe. After his initial one under 70 Garcia was one over with five to play and in joint 86th spot. Only the leading 70 and ties go through to the weekend.

Justin Rose and Brian Davis had yet to resume on two under – Rose had been five under with four holes of his first round to play – while Greg Owen and Graeme McDowell were both heading for early exits.

McDowell turned in a two under 34, but that followed a five over 76 and Owen was four over with five to play.

John Daly pulled out of the event following his first day 74, while defending champion Phil Mickelson and world number two Vijay Singh were among the later starters and stood two under and one under respectively.