FORT WORTH, Texas – Red-hot Jason Dufner remained on track for a third PGA Tour victory in just four weeks by surging into a two-shot lead in Friday’s second round of the Colonial Invitational.

The laid-back American, who won his second title on the US circuit at the Byron Nelson Championship Sunday, fired a flawless six-under-par 64 on another hot and breezy day at the iconic Colonial Country Club.

“I’ve been really, really confident out there, playing some nice golf,” Dufner told reporters after reaching 27 of 36 greens in regulation over the first two rounds. “I just feel really comfortable with my game.

Dufner covered his last nine holes in a sizzling four-under 31 to post an 11-under total of 129, two better than overnight leader and 2010 champion Zach Johnson, who carded a 67.

Fellow Americans Bo Van Pelt (64) and Tommy Gainey (67) were a further two strokes back at seven-under, one better than compatriot Tom Gillis (69).

Westwood falls short

Lee Westwood was unable to close the gap on the PGA Championship leaders as the Englishman’s hopes of ending his long wait for victory at Wentworth were shattered Saturday.

Westwood is making his 19th appearance at the European Tour’s flagship event and he came in with high hopes of lifting the trophy after losing a play-off to Luke Donald last year. But the 39-year-old’s erratic form this week, 18 birdies in three days have been offset by eight bogeys, three doubles and a triple, has left him 11 shots behind overnight leader James Morrison, who has yet to start his third round.

Westwood, who is one-under for the tournament after three rounds, only just made the cut Friday and he needed a superb effort Saturday to have any chance of setting up a final day charge.

Ian Poulter had the chance to do better when he turned in a three-under 32 and after a bogey at the 10th birdied the next two.

Poulter dropped another stroke at the 15th, however, and at three under for the tournament was still only 23rd. — AFP