SENIOR GOLF McCord fires 64 to share top spot

Gary McCord and Jose Maria Canizares share the second-round lead.
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- Gary McCord is going to skip work to play golf.
And he's not going to get in trouble.
McCord, better known as a TV golf analyst than an occasional player on the Champions Tour, surged into the lead at the Senior Players Championship on Friday with an 8-under 64 for a 10-under 134 after two rounds..
He was then caught by Jose Maria Canizares, whose 66 also gave him a 10-under 134 at one of the senior tour's five majors.
McCord does not play regularly because of his job at CBS, which will broadcast the final two rounds and turn McCord into a player-analyst at least on Saturday when he's in the final group.
"I'll just do interviews on the golf course, or something," he said. "I don't know what we'll do. We'll figure it out."
Three tied for second
First-round leader Gil Morgan followed up his 65 with a 2-under 70 and was at 9 under, tied for second place with Dana Quigley and Mark James.
Ed Fiori and Doug Tewell will start Saturday's third round another stroke back.
Defending champion Craig Stadler and Bruce Fleisher were among a group of four at 7 under, just three strokes back.
With nine birdies and one bogey, McCord fell one stroke short of the tournament record.
"I kept hitting the ball where I was aiming, the right distance and everything, which is usually not the case with me," he said.
McCord has not won on the Champions Tour since winning twice in 1999, and has not led an event in nearly three years.
In six previous tournaments this season, he tied for seventh once in March and has finished tied for 20th twice. In 10 events last year, he finished no better than tied for 15th.
Analysts
McCord said it's difficult for analysts to also play competitively, noting Gary Koch and Andy North have found that out.
"It's hard when you go back and forth," said McCord, whose best finish on the PGA Tour was a second. "It's really hard to get any kind of momentum going, just about impossible."
McCord said his playing schedule is sporadic at best. He tries to play 10 tournaments, half as many as he broadcasts.
"I've kind of given up the quest to do it out here," he said.
The TPC of Michigan became even easier for the best golfers 50-and-over during the second round because of calm winds, and dry conditions, which made the course shorter. The average winning score the past six years has been better than 17 under.
"If the wind lays down like this, it's just party time," McCord said.
Morgan, whose putting let him down, was the only player among the top seven that didn't shoot 67 or better. His three-stroke lead was the largest opening-round advantage in the 22-year history of the event.