Brendan Steele has spent four-and-a-half years looking to rediscover that precious winning feeling and it could return this weekend at the Frys.com Open in Napa Valley, California.
Advertisement
The tournament will be called the Safeway Open, and the PGA Tour confirmed its new deal to keep the event at Silverado through 2020.
Steele, whose only PGA Tour victory came at the 2011 Texas Open, birdied seven of his last eight holes for a red-hot homeward nine of seven-under 29 to set a sizzling pace in the season-opening event on the US circuit’s 2015-16 schedule.
For the tourney, Brendan also leads the field in greens in regulation at 85.19 percent, helped by being second in driving accuracy at 69.05 percent.
“Everything’s pretty good. Normally I’m a pretty good ball striker and that’s even maybe a little better than it normally is this week but I’ve holed quite a few putts and that goes as a good combination”. After making the turn at 34 after three birdies and a bogey, he had four bogeys from Nos.
“I want to have chances to win golf tournaments, that’s really my focus until the end of the year”, said McIlroy.
“Would have put me out of my misery, to be honest with you, ” he said, laughing.
Steele seized control with 63 in the opening round that tied the North course record.
But all that mattered was a two-shot lead going into the weekend.
Ko takes lead in South Korea: INCHEON, South Korea – Lydia Ko made an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke lead over Lexi Thompson in the KEB Hana Bank Championship.
Advertisement
McIlroy, the No. 3 in the world, shot 71 and was six shots behind. Fred Couples (69) was a stroke back along with Bernhard Langer (68), Scott Dunlap (71) and first-round leader Wes Short (72).
