Bryson DeChambeau could have have had a very special round Friday at the Hero World Challenge but a double-bogey at the par four 16th threw a wrench in the machinery.
DeChambeau, undaunted, bounced back by hitting his tee shot at the par three 17th within three-feet, made that, parred the tough 18th and posted the day’s low round — and eight-under par 64 at Albany.
Through 36 holes, Bryson leads the field with an amazing 16 birdies on his scorecards.
Bryson stands alone at the top at 11-under par (68-64) but has some world-class challengers right behind him.
There a chance that there could be a Bryson-Brooks Koepka showdown. Koepka has two 67s on the board and was one of three players tied at 10-under par. When asked about possibly going head-to-head with DeChambeau again, Brooks shrugged his shoulders and simply said: “I took care of that last week.”
Collin Morikawa lost his chance for a share of the lead when he hit an errant tee shot at the 18th and had to pitch back out into the fairway. His third went long, left and he made a great up-and-down just to save bogey and a round of 66.
Tony Finau birdied the 18th and is the only player to do so for the first two days. Finau shot 66 and is tied with Morikawa and Koepka.
Daniel Berger added 69 to his first round 66 and was alone at nine-under par.
Rory McIlroy faded on Friday. He shot himself in the foot at the short, driveable 14th where he was just short of the green on his tee shot, hit a sub-standard pitch to 20 feet above the hole then putted off the green. He pitched back up the steep slope and two-putted for bogey. Rory’s 71 left him at seven-under par.
Justin Thomas struggled with his driver and a 72 dropped him to five-under, tied for 11th.
Hero World Challenge Scoreboard:
