NAPA, Calif. -- Bryson DeChambeau hasn't had much chance to get familiar with his wedge after changing to a graphite shaft this week. The Northern California native certainly looked comfortable enough Friday as he attacked pin after pin to surge up the leaderboard at the Safeway Open.
DeChambeau shot a bogey-free 8-under 64 to take a two-shot lead in the Safeway Open.
Tony Romo, the former NFL quarterback and current CBS TV analyst, missed the cut following a 78.
DeChambeau had a 12-under 132 total at Silverado Country Club. The 26-year-old matched two others for the best round of the day and was in line to extend his lead, but left a 20-foot eagle putt short on No. 18.
"It's always fun to come out and play to the potential you know you can," DeChambeau said. "The greens got a little bumpy this afternoon but they're still rolling nice enough to make some putts. I was able to control my line, control my speed and have a couple of them drop in."
DeChambeau missed the cut at the season-opening event at The Greenbrier, didn't play in last weekend's Sanderson Farms Championship and got off to a slow start this week, with an opening-round 68 that left him four shots back.
After beginning the second round with four consecutive pars, DeChambeau birdied No. 5, sank a 35-footer for birdie on No. 6, then had a tap-in for another birdie on No. 8. He opened the back nine with three consecutive birdies, made another on No. 14 then closed with a final birdie on 18.
"I knew if I could go work on my swing like I did yesterday and come out and feel comfortable like I did today, I'd come out and shoot a low number," DeChambeau said.
Romo, who was playing on a sponsor exemption, entered the day five shots back after an opening-round 70. If he had made the cut, he planned to skip Sunday's NFL broadcast in Chicago of the game between the Bears and Minnesota Vikings.
Romo acknowledged he felt some of the nerves Friday.
"There was nerves, but it was also fun nerves," he said. "I got off to a rough start that can be attributed to nerves, and I came back strong with a couple of birdies and got myself back in it. But then I had a loose swing that just made it difficult to self-correct on the course, and it kinda got a little bit late. Putter let me down today. That's five or six shots easily there, and that can be a difference out here."
Romo isn't the only big name who won't be playing over the weekend.
Phil Mickelson shot 69 but was doomed by an opening 75 that included a quadruple-bogey. Defending champion Kevin Tway bogeyed the final hole for a 72 to miss the cut by a stroke.
"The way I see it, there were eight par-5s and I've got to play those 4 to 6 under par to have a chance to win," Mickelson said. "I played them 4 over. So there's eight to 10 shots right there on simply the par-5s. It tells me that some areas are OK, but that's the area that I've got to improve on."
Nick Watney was second after a 65. Watney needed just 22 putts to complete his round and stay within range of DeChambeau.
"[The greens] are getting a little bit crispy right now, but they rolled pretty pure for me," Watney said.
Justin Thomas made nine birdies and matched DeChambeau with a 64 that left him tied with Nick Taylor (66), Dylan Frittelli (65), Adam Long (68) and Cameron Champ (68) at 9 under.
First-round leaders Adam Scott and Andrew Landry tumbled down the leaderboard.
Scott struggled off the tee most of the afternoon and shot a 73 to fall into a tie for 14th at 6 under. Landry shot 74 and dropped to 5 under.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.