Zurich Classic: Second-round notebook

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NEW ORLEANS -- Louisiana native David Toms is making his 16th career start in this event. He won the tournament in 2001 when it was contested at English Turn G&CC. The victory was the fifth of his 12 career titles. Toms has made two prior starts at TPC Louisiana:

• Toms' 136 total is one shot off his best opening 36-hole total in this tournament. Toms posted rounds of 69-66-135 to begin in 2004 when he finished tied for 34th. He also carded a 69-67-136 in 2006 and wound up tied for 47th. When Toms won in 2001, he opened 66-73 but then came back on the weekend to shoot 63-64 and finish 22-under par, two better than runner-up Phil Mickelson.

• Jerry Kelly, the 36-hole leader at 10-under 134 (68-66), is making his ninth start in New Orleans. He has made the cut in six of eight starts with his only top-10 a tie for fifth in 2003. In Kelly's only previous start at TPC Louisiana was in 2005 when he finished tied for 65th.

• In Kelly's previous two career wins -- the 2002 Sony Open in Hawaii and the Advil Western Open -- he was near the lead at the halfway mark.

• Kelly had 26 putts in his second round. The Wisconsin native has been averaging 29.50 putts in the second round this year, which ranks him tied for 133rd on TOUR for putts in the second round.

• A total of 72 players made the 36-hole cut, which came at 1-under-par 143. Third-round play will be in twosomes off the first tee. The first group will tee off at 7:55 a.m. and the final group tees off at 12:56 p.m.

• Here is how the 36-hole cut has looked in the three previous years at TPC Louisiana:

• Defending champion Andres Romero (73-76) was disqualified following the second round today. Romero signed an incorrect scorecard. Romero signed for a par-5 on No. 18, where he actually made a bogey-6. The last defending champion not to advance to the weekend here was 2005 winner Tim Petrovic, who shot rounds of 71-70--141 (3 under) and missed the cut in 2006 by a single stroke.

• Some of the more prominent names that are heading home for the weekend:

• Troy Matteson tied the TPC Louisiana course record today with an 8-under 64, thanks to seven birdies, an eagle and one bogey. Matteson tied the mark set by Kyle Reifers during the opening round in 2007. Among Mattesons's highlights for the day were chip-in birdies on No. 12 from 50 feet and No. 17 from 51 feet, along with an eagle putt of 25 feet, 7 inches on the par-5, seventh hole.

• Among those in attendance today, New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, who spent a few minutes with fellow Wake Forest University alum Webb Simpson (70-71). Paul and the Hornets play host to the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their opening-round NBA Playoff series on Saturday afternoon. The Nuggets lead the best-of-seven set 2-0.

• Ian Poulter fired a bogey-free, 6-under-par 66 today to move up the leaderboard. The score was the best Poulter has posted in a PGA TOUR event since a final-round 66 (5 under) at the 2007 BMW Championship. In relation to par, the 6 under score is the best for Poulter since a 7-under (64) in the opening round of the 2006 World Golf Championships-American Express Championship. Poulter is making the 90th start of his PGA TOUR career and has now made 66 total cuts. He has 14 top-10 finishes with his best a tie for second at the 2006 American Express Championship and a second at the 2008 British Open.

• Former champion Nick Watney missed the cut this week, which means Watney won't get to spend his 28th birthday (Saturday) playing golf at TPC Louisiana.

• Scott Piercy made an eagle-2 at the par-4, 13th hole by tapping in a short putt of 3 feet, 11 inches. Piercy drove the green on the dogleg-left hole that measures 363 yards. His tee shot took a direct line route to the green and thus measured only 328 yards.

• Masters runner-up Kenny Perry was in good position late in the day and was 8-under par with two holes to play. Closing his day on the front nine Perry finished bogey/double-bogey for a 2-under 70 and a 5-under total. Perry hit his tee shot at the par-3, ninth into the water, took a drop, hit his third to 5 feet, 9 inches and missed his putt for bogey-4.

• Kevin Stadler gained entry into this event as a Monday Qualifier when he shot a 66 at The Bridges Golf Club in Bay St. Louis, Mo., which is about 50 miles east of New Orleans. He was one of four from a group of 60 players to make the starting field of 156. Ironically enough, Stadler would have been the final man in the field had he not been successful on Monday. On the list of alternates, Stadler would have been added to replace Notah Begay II, who withdrew on Wednesday. Instead, Tag Ridings was the one to replace Begay in the field.

• Stadler (70-67--137/7 under) is currently tied for sixth after two rounds. This is his 114th career start on TOUR. Stadler's best standing after 36 holes was a tie for second at the 2005 Michelin Championship. He's also been tied for fifth on two other occasions. His career-best finish was a tie for fourth at the 2008 Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular.

• There were several "birdie clusters" during Friday's play:
- Kelly birdied four of six holes to begin the back nine
- Toms made four consecutive birdies starting at No. 12
- Charles Howell made five consecutive birdies starting at No. 7
- David Mathis birdied seven of eight holes starting at No. 13 (he started his round on the back nine)
- Rory Sabbaitini birdied four consecutive holes starting at No. 4
- Boo Weekley birdied four consecutive holes starting at No. 17 (he started his round on the back nine)
- Steve Allan birdied four of five holes starting at No. 4