(Reuters) - American Hudson Swafford, who has benefited from a change to his putting stroke over the past month, surged into an early one-shot lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans second round on Friday.
The 27-year-old, bidding for his first victory on the PGA Tour after competing as a rookie last season, took advantage of ideal scoring conditions on a rain-softened layout at the TPC Louisiana as he fired a flawless six-under-par 66.
Swafford recorded three birdies on each nine to post an 11-under total of 133, finishing a stroke in front of compatriot Cameron Tringale (65) and Zimbabwean Brendon de Jonge (70).