Donald leads Heritage

Luke Donald moved a step closer to the world No. 1 ranking Friday, shooting a 6-under-par 65 to take the lead halfway through the Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Donald is ranked third, behind No. 1 Martin Kaymer and No. 2 Lee Westwood. However, Donald would jump to the top with a win at Harbour Town, no matter how Westwood fares this weekend at the Indonesian Masters.

Westwood led by one stroke today after the completion of the suspended second round in Jakarta. Kaymer isn’t playing this week.

Donald, 33, hasn’t let talk of No. 1 distract him through two rounds, finishing at 10-under 132 for a one-shot edge over first-round leader Garrett Willis.

Masters runner-up Jason Day, defending champion Jim Furyk, Camilo Villegas and Chad Campbell were 8 under. Ben Crane and Ian Poulter were three strokes behind Donald.

Donald was the highest ranked of seven players in the world’s top 20 competing at what could be the last Heritage. The PGA Tour fixture is seeking a title sponsor, something tour and event officials say is essential to maintaining its place on the schedule for 2012.

Donald could give the Heritage the boost it needs if he can claim No. 1.

“I guess it’s always in the back of your mind,” the Englishman said. “It’s hard to get away from knowing that with Twitter and Facebook and the media and everything, you obviously know what’s at stake.”

Wayzata’s Tim Herron is four strokes off the lead after a 71, Spring Lake Park’s Troy Merritt shot 70 for a 141 and Burnsville’s Cameron Beckman missed the cut by five strokes after a 75.

Briefly: Tom Kite and Gil Morgan shot 10-under 62 and were tied with Ted Schulz and Gary Hallberg with a one-shot lead over several teams in the first round of the best-ball Champions Tour Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in Savannah, Ga.