James Hahn carded a six-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead at the Phoenix Open before the second round was suspended due to darkness.
Advertisement
The other featured group includes Rickie Fowler, Kevin Kisner and Smylie Kaufman.
Bubba Watson, a runner-up in each of the last two years at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, banking over $1 in those two starts, admitted earlier this week that – well – TPC Scottsdale isn’t exactly his favorite venue on Tour.
Fowler, who moved to fourth in the world with his victory at Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago, said he enjoys the rowdy atmosphere of the tournament – a change from the more traditional tone.
His six birdies didn’t include the famously festive 16th on Friday – so after missing the green at the par-three he punished himself with 10 pushups instead.
“I didn’t explain myself well”, Watson said. “The walk-off 3 at the par-4 18th, from 3’10”, was a bounce back from a sloppy three-putt from 26’5″ at the drivable par-4 17th, his only dropped shot on the round.
Fellow first-round leaders Hideki Matsuyama and Shane Lowry slipped back to tied third after they both struck 70, with the Irishman bouncing back from finding the water and running up a double-bogey at the 17th to pick up a shot at the last.
‘I don’t like it, ‘ said Watson on Wednesday after the pro-am ahead of the tournament. Cabrello-Bello shot his second 67 to reach 10-under 134 at the halfway stage of the tournament.
Anirbahn Lahiri and Bryce Molder are a shot further back on five-under. The 45-year-old former Arizona State player bogeyed Nos.
Lowry birdied seven of his first 13 holes, then bogeyed the next two.
“That kind of let the round get away”, said Mickelson, the tournament victor in 1996, 2005 and 2013.
Bubba Watson repeated that he doesn’t like TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course. Bo Van Pelt birdied the final hole Saturday morning for a 68 that left him 6 under….
Advertisement
The two-time Masters champion tied for second the last two seasons.
