“I’ve struggled putting here at Monterey in the past few years”.
Advertisement
Kang’s amateur partner is comedian Ray Romano, and Kang said he didn’t know of Romano while in Korea but definitely knows him now.
Sung Kang and Hiroshi Iwata are tied atop the leaderboard at 11-under 132.
Jordan Spieth, right, stands with caddie Michael Greller before hitting from the fourth tee of the Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Thursday.
On another gorgeous day, Mickelson and Kang each raised talk about a 59.
Mickelson took only 11 putts on the front nine at Monterey Peninsula.
“I drove the ball spectacular”, said the world’s No. 1-ranked player. “But I’m not going to complain because I made a lot of good putts on the front”.
Today: Kokrak tees off at 8:22 a.m. on No. 1 with Kevin Na, Ed Vaughan and Kenny G. Iwata had a six-under 66 at Pebble Beach to join the Korean on 11 under.
On a day where Cameron Smith tumbled from a tie for second to a tie for 27th after a three-over 75 on the Pebble Beach course, 17-year-old Ryan Ruffels remained close to the lead.
Phil Mickelson, Freddie Jacobson and Chez Reavie are all a shot adrift after the second round.
“I’m hitting it great now”, said Spieth, victor of the Hyundai event in Maui. “From where I’ve been at (after his drive), they have pretty much been par-4s for me, so it nearly feels like I’m playing them 7-over”.
Justin Rose also played at Monterey and is nine under after a 68. Some of them he read on his own.
Kang’s bag is being carried by Fluff Cowan, who caddied for Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk, who is not here because of an injury.
Daniel Im of the United States (68) and Theunis Spangenberg (71) of South Africa were tied for third on 4 under alongside Haydn Porteous, who won the tour’s Joburg Open last month.
Romano, who has become a regular at this event, wasn’t sure of the name of his partner earlier in the week. “Then after we finished he said, ‘Hey, you beat your career round'”. “He’s very famous, ‘” Kang said.
England’s Justin Rose was among seven players at six under.
Kang managed par in his first round but was in fantastic form as he put on a masterclass on Friday, starting on the back nine and carding six under courtesy of four birdies and an eagle on the 16th hole. “I just couldn’t get it in the hole”, said the Masters and U.S. Open champion. He chipped to 15 feet and saved par. And playing alongside all-world entertainer Justin Timberlake, he should have plenty of company as he makes his way around this week’s host course for just the second time following his Wednesday practice round.
Advertisement
Jason Day, Matt Jones and the in-form New Zealander Danny Lee the next best of the Australasians in a group in 13th position and a shot behind Ruffels.
