World number one Jordan Spieth crashed out of the Northern Trust Open Friday with fellow American Jason Kokrak leading by a single shot and Rory McIlroy firmly in the mix after the second round.
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Renowned for his brilliant putting, Spieth missed eight putts from inside 10 feet as he mixed eight bogeys and a double with just two birdies to card his worst opening round on the PGA Tour.
“I felt like there was a couple rounds last week (in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am) where I shot two under and I was more miserable than I was today”, said Spieth, who shot 82 in the Memorial Tournament in 2013 and 80 in the Tour Championship in 2014.
For Camilo Villegas, who has not made a cut all year, the opening round of the Northern Trust Open was a day to savor.
McIlroy started quickly with birdies on two of his first three holes and narrowly missed an eagle chance at the 17th. He missed the cut at The Players Championship last May and finished no worse than third in four of his next five events. But then when you start getting these five, six-footers on softer poa annua (grass), that’s where I really struggle.
Watson got himself into trouble a couple of weeks ago for criticizing the TPC Scottsdale course during the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Spieth’s biggest rival, Rory McIlroy, had said earlier in the week that he considers the tournament at Riviera Country Club to be the start of his preparation towards the Masters, the first major of the season starting in the second week of April. A 22-year-old senior at Illinois, Danielson earned a spot in his first PGA Tour event through a college qualifier on Monday.
“The benefit is I know I can do it”, twice Masters champion Watson, 37, told reporters after firing a four-under 67 on Saturday to edge one shot clear on a tightly bunched leaderboard. “It’s good to see some of those mid-range putts start to do what they have been doing for a while now”. He maintained his momentum heading into the back nine as he made three more birdies and another bogey, which occurred at the 12th when missed a 36-foot par putt.
“I just went out and tried to enjoy the day”, Danielson said. “I played the front nine very well, very solid, 3-under par”. “Just too many mistakes”.
‘It’s fantastic, I feel really confident about where my game is and had a great range session.
“I did a lot of talking with [caddie] Michael [Greller] throughout the round today”.
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Leonard rarely got out of position, making two bogeys when he did, but he closed with a 4-iron from 204 yards up the hill to 6 feet for birdie on the ninth. “This is a golf course where it’s not easy to shoot 8 under”, Villegas said. And if it wasnt for them, Id probably be top of the leaderboard again.He is coming off a victory last week in South Africa, and the 10-hour time change explains why he was a bit groggy for his afternoon tee time.
