PGA Tour news: Patrick Rodgers opens up three-shot lead at weather-delayed Texas Open

The 30-year-old American completed his first round with a score of 66 on Friday morning, just two shots behind Canada's Corey Conners.

However, his storming finish in the second round enabled him to finish with a total of 11-under, three strokes ahead of Conners.

Rodgers, who has played in 234 prior tournaments without a victory, now has a chance to win his first tour title and qualify for the upcoming Masters championship in Augusta. If he can maintain his momentum, he could fulfill his long-held dream of playing in a major championship.

Rodgers bounced back from bogeys at the sixth and 10th with birdies at 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18.

In an interview after the game, Rodgers expressed his excitement about the upcoming rounds.

"It's something I've always dreamt of. It's the reason why I'm out here. I love this job because I love to compete, and I do my best to win a golf tournament every time I tee it up. I'm excited for the chance. This is, like I said, why I play. It's going to be a really fun next couple of days," he said.

Rodgers' total score of 11-under 133 put him three strokes ahead of Conners, the 2019 Texas Open champion who scored an even-par 72 after his first-round 64. American Michael Thompson was in third place after a 68 for a total of seven-under 137.

The second round was scheduled to end on Saturday morning after fog delayed the start of Thursday's first round for more than three hours. When play was suspended due to darkness, Rodgers' closest pursuer on the course was Roberto Diaz of Mexico, who was eight-under through 10 holes.

Rodgers has played in only five major championships in his career, participating in 234 prior tournaments without a victory. However, his strong finish in the second round put him in a position to change that, sticking his tee shot at the 198-yard 16th inside eight feet for birdie and making another birdie from inside 10 feet at 17. He then reached the 593-yard par-five 18th in two for a closing birdie.

In contrast, Conners had a tough time, four-putting his seventh hole, the par-three 16th, and unable to build on the momentum of his first round.

"It was just really windy," he said. "Just caught a bit of a gust on the first putt, a little mindless trying to knock in my bogey putt, and it got away from me as well... It happens. I feel like I'm rolling it well."