Willis and Couch set pace in Florida

Americans Garrett Willis and Chris Couch were the surprise halfway leaders at the PGA Tour Transitions Championship as Paul Casey failed to take his fine form into the second day at Innisbrook.

Willis was four-under-par for his round today, highlighted by an eagle at the par-five fifth, and nine-under overall.

He was joined on that mark by Couch, one of three men to card a round of seven-under today.

Couch, 37, suffers from tendonitis in his left elbow and has battled back from a shoulder injury, but is playing some of the best golf of his career despite being restricted in the number of tournaments he can play.

"I feel like I'm good enough to win, and I've been playing well enough this year and last year to win," Couch told www.pgatour.com.

"And you know, it's just hard to come back from an injury.

"It would definitely mean a lot to me. I've been blessed to be back out here.

"God has given me an opportunity to come back from an injury which I didn't know if I was going to be able to come back or not. I mean, there was times when my shoulder was so bad that I thought that was going to be my career."

One shot back were popular Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who is yet to drop a stroke having hit a second-round 66 on the par-71 course, and American Webb Simpson, four under for the day.

Justin Rose was one of the day's big movers, with a round of six under taking him into a share of fifth alongside, among others, Casey.

The Englishman was level for his round today, two shots off the lead having held a two-stroke advantage overnight.

Like Willis, Brandt Snedeker carded a 64 today to move into a tie for 11th on six-under along with a clutch of players which included Scotland's Martin Laird.

World number one Martin Kaymer added a one-under-par 70 to his opening 68 to be four-under overall at the midway point.