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Baddeley and Byrd share BMW lead

08/09/2007

Australian Aaron Baddeley continued his superb form in the FedExCup series to claim a share of the lead in the BMW Championship with Jonathan Byrd at the halfway stage.

Baddeley led the Deutsche Bank Championship after two rounds last week and his round of six-under-par elevated him to joint first at the midway point in Illinois.

England's Justin Rose remains in contention after carding a round of two-under, to go with his 65 from yesterday, which leaves him on eight-under for the tournament, one shot behind Byrd and Baddeley.

The highlight of his round was an eagle at the 15th hole where he landed an 80-foot bunker shot that got his tournament back on track.

Byrd also shot a round of two-under as he looked to build on his first round seven-under. Although he carded an unspectacular round it was still enough to consolidate his position at the top of the leaderboard.

The round of the day was Baddeley's, he holed eight birdies and two bogeys on the day. The 26-year-old put his form down to the control he is gaining from his approach shots.

He said: "I've been hitting the ball better all year, and my misses are getting straighter. I feel like I have very good control over the trajectory and the shape of the shot. I feel very comfortable with my golf swing."

Tiger Woods is closing in on the leaders after carding a second round of four-under that puts him one shot behind Byrd and Baddeley on eight-under at the halfway stage.

Woods dropped one shot at the par-three 13th hole and picked up five birdies on the way to his second consecutive 67. He is joined on eight-under by America's Steve Stricker and Colombia's Camilo Villegas.