Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, tees off on the 15th hole during the pro-am at the Honda Classic golf tournament, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
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A missed putt by Phil Mickelson.
Players struggled in windy conditions at PGA National Golf Club, including world No. 3 Rory McIlroy, who won there in 2012.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. A year later, he already was 7-over par through eight holes of the second round when he walked to the parking lot, later saying his wisdom tooth was bothering him. “If you weren’t swinging well it definitely was going to pick you apart”.
George McNeill, who had five missed cuts in five starts this season and shot 84 in his last competitive round, made 175 feet of putts and shot 67.
“I made just one bogey but Rickie made no bogeys”.
There might be some truth to that.
OFFALY’S SHANE LOWRY found his range at the Honda Classic today to sit one shot off the clubhouse lead on three-under-par in Florida.
McIlroy had moved into red figures for the first time with birdies on the 12th and 13th, only to run up a double bogey on the 14th after finding three separate bunkers on the 465-yard par four. But with two par 5s being changed to par 4s for the week, there’s plenty of trouble all over the course. Garcia, 18-9-5 through the years for Team Europe, wouldn’t set the stage any other way. All three are eager to get back to work at the Honda Classic at a time of the year when each tournament presents a strong test and each week gets them closer to the first major of the year at Augusta National.
A year later, while defending his title and No. 1 world ranking, McIlroy authored an embarrassing act-your-age moment. I love the smack talk and the fun that we have amongst each other, but then I also really enjoy the opportunity to play against the best players in the world and see if I can compete and to win at the highest level.
Riviera victor Bubba Watson is taking the week off.
Fowler had the only bogey-free round. “On Sunday when the pin is in the back right on No. 17, this is the hardest hole we play on tour”, says Robert Allenby.
Lingmerth was the steadiest of the early leaders, making only one bogey.
He closed with a 75 and tied for 20th.
Mickelson had a two-shot lead at Pebble Beach going into the final round.
Lowry capped off his round with a 3-iron that settled 3 feet away for an eagle on the par-5 18th with the wind at his back.
“It’s amusing because the last six or seven times Rickie and I played together either he holed out or I did”.
None of them appeared to be losing sleep. “For sure, you are wondering a little bit, because usually my long game, it’s up there, and even when I’m not playing great, I still can manage to get around it. But last week, I felt out of sorts”.
Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson opened with a solid one-under 69 and hinted that the Champions Course could have been rendered unplayable in the breezy conditions had the greens not been soft and receptive.
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McIlroy’s four-over total of 144 put him outside the projected cut line, another disappointing finish in a tournament where he has experienced wildly fluctuating fortunes.
