Good thing Dustin Johnson was given 10 shots to start the Tour Championship, otherwise he’d be trailing Sungjae Im by five shots.
But with the PGA Tour’s handicapping system, Johnson is clinging to a one-shot lead t the halfway mark at East Lake.
Johnson hit only two fairways and paid the price on day two. D.J. birdied the 18th to shoot even par and remain at 13-under par, a single stroke in front of Sungjae Im.
If this were a real tournament, the leaderboard would look like this:
Sungjae Im: 68-64–132: eight-under par.
Xander Schauffele: 67-65–132: eight-under par.
Tyrrell Hatton: 67-66–133: seven-under par.
But with the PGA Tour’s wacky handicap system, Johnson has the lead at 13-under after rounds of 67 and 70. Im goes into moving day just a shot back at 12-under while Schauffele is just two back at 11-under.
Justin Thomas wasn’t as sharp as he was on Friday. His 71 put him at 10-under as a total of four players are in double-figures under par.
Jon Rahm had an awful time on day two. Like his playing partner, Johnson, he had trouble finding fairways and struggled on the back nine. A tee shot in the water at the par three 15th resulted in double-bogey and a poor layup at the final hole led to a bogey on the par five. Rahm shot 74 and fell back to nine-under with Collin Morikawa (65) and Hatton.
Rory McIlroy struggled and on 18, his drive went through the fairway. With the water just in front of him, McIlroy could have easily put his second just short of the green but he smother-topped his second and it went all of 15 feet, straight into the drink. A bogey to finish left him with 71 and he’s eight-under, five back of the leader and in need of a low one on Sunday.
2 Comments
baxter cepeda
It would be fitting if Im —the hardest working man in golf —ended up with the biggest bonus check.
It’s Amazing how DJ and Rahm can miss so many fairways and still be in contention. Their putting and overall play is still on another level for both. Although, Rahms finishing disasters may have eliminated him; DJs finish at 18 seemed to save the day By maintaining the lead.
Xander is the quiet man here. The year JT won the big big bonus it was Xander with the lowest score and only a stick for his troubles. I’m sure the so cal man feels very deserving of a cup.
JT seems to be having an attitude problem week he will learn from later but too late if not careful. He needs to cheer up a bit. Easier said than done.
But What’s most on my mind is the new daddy. No attitude problems here this week for Rory. But way too many careless mistakes.
I called that would happen to Rory on 18… Right before it happened…at least on dvr time.
As bad a decision as rory made on that water ball by taking too much club from that nasty bermuda; the unforgivable mistake was hitting driver again through the fairway after he barely got away with it yesterday.
Rory also made many poor choices around the greens, Mainly taking putter. Don’t get me wrong I’m all about that Arnie and Jack story about putting whenever you can, but every one of those situations he chose putter and didn’t get up and down looked like a bad idea.
It’s too bad because otherwise unlike JT rory seems in that all good things place.
As ridiculous as the system is, the leaderboard is What it is. It is a good one but It’s obviously a good leaderboard anytime you start with the top 30; which is why it would be great to just start even and winner take all; you know…play off.
While we wait for that, it will also be interesting to see if the lowest score can save the awkwardness by winning again like Rory last year.
It is possible considering Some top guys have played themselves out of contention while guys lower down have played their way Im.
Tom Edrington
Long way to go, 36 holes ANYTHING can happen as you well know Baxter!