Zach Johnson surges into tie for lead at Texas Open

LOS ANGELES, California: Former British Open champ Zach Johnson played his way into a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Texas Open, reeling off four straight birdies en route to a seven-under 65.

The 42-year-old has a history at this event, having won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, the first two times he competed in it.

Under cloudy, windy conditions in San Antonio on Friday, he rolled in six birdies and an eagle to tie for the lead at nine-under 135 with fellow American Ryan Moore, who fired a five-under 67.

They are one stroke ahead of Andrew Landry and Grayson Murray, who shot 67 and 69, respectively.

Ben Crane (66), Martin Laird of Scotland (65) and Canada’s David Hearn (68) are tied for fifth at six-under, three shots adrift of the leaders.

Both Johnson’s win here came on a different course, LaCantera Golf Club, but the TPC San Antonio suits him just fine.

He is one of just four winners in tournament history, dating to 1922, to successfully defend the title, joining Bill Mehlhorn 1928-29, Arnold Palmer 1960-62 and Justin Leonard 2000-01.

The 2015 British Open winner holed out of a greenside bunker at the fifth hole for an eagle-two, his second eagle of the week. On the par-four 15th he hit his 173-yard approach to 15 feet then sank the putt for his fourth straight birdie.