The PGA Tour Champions is in the Middle East this week for the Trophy Hassan II in Morocco.
Stephen Ames was the day one leader with a six-under par 67 at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
Player Of The Year and Charlies Schwab Cup champion for 2022, Steven Alker, did not make the overseas trip.
Alker’s longtime caddie Sam Workman has passed away after a battle with cancer this past Monday. It was only the week before that Alker announced that Workman (age 55) was battling terminal cancer.
“Words cannot describe the sudden passing of Sam Workman from his fight with cancer on February 6, 2023,” Alker said in an Instagram post. “You will be missed by so many. It has been a privilege walking the fairways with you ‘my man’.”
Alker and Workman teamed for five Champions Tour Champions titles, including last year’s season with four wins, the Charles Schwab Cup title and Player of the Year honors. Alker frequently credited Workman’s loyalty and even keel for a large part of his success in recent years, elevating his game from career journeyman status to atop the Champions Tour ranks.
Weather’s The Factor At DP World Event In Singapore:
The DP World Tour is in the Far East for the Singapore Classic and weather has been a major factor.
First round leader Tom McKibbin of England and Chinese amateur Ding Wenyi were at the top of the leader-board when play was halted Friday evening.
There was an hour delay that affected the second round due to a heavy downpour that flooded some of the greens.
McKibbin was the first round leader after shooting a bogey-free 64 on Thursday. He made his first bogey on day two, then added another but five birdies kept him at the top.
Ding, who opened with 66, carded two eagles, two birdies and a bogey in his first 14 holes before the daylight ran out. He and McKibbin were both at 11-under par.
Germany’s Marcel Schneider and England’s Andy Sullivan were a shot back of the co-leaders at 10-under par.
The field will be back on the course early Saturday to finish the second round. The cut will be made and the third round will begin.
