Yes, young Beau Hossler has the 36-hole lead at the Houston Open, his first-ever overnight lead in a PGA Tour event, but he’s got a huge crowd right behind him.
Hossler’s is 11-under par after two days of work at the Houston Golf Club and might have been a co-leader had Rickie Fowler not hit his last tee ball of the day Friday into the water off the 18th tee.
Fowler finished with a bogey and dropped into a group of four who are a stroke back of the rookie from the University of Texas.
Jordan Spieth is two shots back and should have been in that group at 10-under with Fowler but Spieth, whose putting has come back to life, missed a three-footer for par at the 16th on his way to a 67. Spieth has four others keeping him company at nine-under.
Two other big names kept themselves close to the halfway lead. Henrik Stenson’s in at eight-under par, Justin Rose at seven under.
Phil Mickelson is five-under after a second round 71 that was marred by a triple-bogey seven at the 18th where he hit his tee shot and his approach to the green into the water hazard left.
Hossler knows he has his work cut out for him. But he’s been on with his game — he’s made just one bogey in two rounds and that came at the start of his round on Friday. “The reality is I’m 11 under par. More than likely 18 under is going to win the tournament unless the conditions are tough, so there’s a long way to go,” Hossler said. “It’s not like I can go shoot even par and win the tournament. But I’m looking forward to the challenge of the weekend.”
