Bud Cauley, who not long ago wondered if he was done with golf, leads after 2 rounds at PGA National

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Bud Cauley is leading on the PGA Tour. That might not have seemed likely a few years ago.

Cauley — who was seriously injured in a 2018 car crash and is playing a tour event for only the third time in nearly 4 1/2 years — shot a 6-under 65 on Friday at PGA National to take a one-shot lead after 36 holes of the Cognizant Classic.

Cauley has 11 birdies and no bogeys over his last 27 holes. He made a 12-footer for birdie at the par-5 18th on Friday as darkness began settling in, posting 11-under 131 and giving him his first 36-hole lead on tour since the Valero Texas Open in 2017.

“My expectation was to come out and compete, and I felt like my game was in a good spot,” Cauley said. “Saying it is one thing, doing it is another. I’m really happy with how I’ve played. I feel like my game has been trending in the right way. I’ve been hitting the ball well and just needed some scoring things to start.”