Scott McCarron leads PGA Tour Champions’ Insperity Invitational

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Scott McCarron took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the PGA Tour Champions’ Insperity Invitational, overcoming a stiff neck to complete a 5-under 67 in the storm-delayed first round and shoot a 65 in the second.

The 53-year-old McCarron was afraid the neck problem might prevent him from playing.

“I woke up this morning and went to dry my hair and my neck just tightened right up,” McCarron said. “It was almost like Chevy Chase when he stuck his fingers in the car door. I was like, ‘I didn’t do that.’

“I knew I was going to have to play a lot of holes today, so I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to go. I went in the fitness trailer and they kind of loosened it up a little bit, but it was bothering me all day. But I think I was more just thinking about keeping it loose and wasn’t really thinking too much about score. And lo and behold, I played pretty good.”

McCarron was in the middle of his second hole Friday when lightning and heavy rain wiped out most of the play at The Woodlands Country Club. He won the Mitsubishi Electric Classic two weeks ago in Georgia for his ninth senior title.

“It’s a long day,” McCarron said. “The day before, I three-putted No. 10 from about 40 feet, missed like a 3-footer, then almost missed the next one, so it was kind of nice that we didn’t have to play anymore. I kind of figured some things out, and putted a little bit.”

Paul Goydos and Scott Parel were tied for second.

Goydos shot 68-67 after only playing two shots Friday.

“Hopefully, going to have a nice day tomorrow,” Goydos said. “But I think if he (McCarron) goes out and shoots 5- or 6-under par like he did today, kind of a moot point.”

Parel shot 67-68, playing 32 holes Saturday.

“For all the rain we got, I was surprised at how good it really was,” Parel said. “It was very wet, and there were definitely places you could not find some dry spots. But all in all, I thought it held up pretty darn good.”

Colin Montgomerie was 8 under after two 68s. He started play Saturday with a par putt on his fourth hole.

“It’s a very long day for us, but at the same time the course has dried out remarkably since this morning,” Montgomerie said. “They squeegeed the driving range, it was under water, so they’ve done a great job. Everyone’s done a great job to get us around and back on schedule.”

Bernhard Langer, the winner last year for his fourth title in the event, was tied for 11th at 5 under after rounds of 69 and 70.