Here is the current Top Ten at the PGA Championship:
1. A. Smalley: -4 (26 holes)
T2. H. Matsuyama (JPN): -3 (34)
T2. A. Potgieter (RSA): -3 (18)
T2. S. Jaeger (GER): -3 (18)
T2. M.W. Lee (AUS): -3 (18)
T2. R. Hisatsune (JPN): -3 (18)
T7. P. Reed: -2 (30)
T7. D. Brown (ENG): -2 (18)
T7. S. Theegala: -2 (18)
T7. M. Greyserman: -2 (18)
T7. X. Schauffele: -2 (18)
Scottie Scheffler, who shot a 3-under par 67 yesterday, is currently at 1-under par for the tournament after 28 holes.
Aronomink G.C. is playing difficult so far today.
Matsuyama shoots a 67 and is in the clubhouse at 3 under par.
ReplyDelete1. Potgieter (RSA): -4 (23 holes)
ReplyDeleteT2. Matsuyama (JPN): -3 (36)
T2. Gotterup: -3 (36)
T2. Smalley: -3 (33)
T2. Jaeger (GER): -3 (20)
T2. M.W. Lee (AUS): -3 (19)
T2. Hisatsune (JPN): -3 (18)
Jason Day is also 3 under after 20 holes.
ReplyDeleteCameron Young, who has been red-hot lately, shoots a 67 and is in the clubhouse at 2 under par.
ReplyDeleteScheffler birdies his last hole to finish with a 71. He's also in the clubhouse at 2 under.
ReplyDeleteAronomink, like Oakmont last year, is another old course that cut down most of the trees grown during the 20th century to get back to the original look. I have finally decided that I don't like this idea, and I think the trees should have stayed.
ReplyDeleteT1. Smalley: -4 (36)
ReplyDeleteT1. Potgieter (RSA): -4 (26)
T3. Matsuyama (JPN): -3 (36)
T3. Gotterup: -3 (36)
T3. Day (AUS): -3 (24)
T3. Lee (AUS): -3 (23)
T3. Jaeger (GER): -3 (23)
T3. Hisatsune (JPN): -3 (19)
Aldrich Potgieter birdies the ninth hole and moves into the lead all alone at 5 under par.
ReplyDelete1. Potgieter (RSA): -5 (32)
ReplyDelete2. Smalley: -4 (36)
T3. Matsuyama (JPN): -3 (36)
T3. Gotterup: -3 (36)
T3. Jaeger: -3 (28)
T3. Theegala: -3 (27)
T3. McNealy: -3 (26)
Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Jason Day, and John Rahm are part of an 8-way tie for eighth at 2 under par.
It was widely believed that the pros would shred Aronomink. The last time they played there, at the 2018 BMW Championship, Keegan Bradley and Justin Rose tied for first at 20 under par, before Bradley won in a playoff. Eleven players finished more than 15 shots under par.
ReplyDeleteTo avoid this outcome, the pin placements have been extremely difficult. The PGA has also featured windy weather. As a result, scores are relatively high -- but the course is not doing a great job of distinguishing the golfers from each other.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, all the golfers are playing very conservatively.
ReplyDeleteSince everyone is being so cautious, the leaderboard doesn't change very much:
ReplyDelete1. Potgieter (RSA): -5 (34)
2. Smalley: -4 (36)
T3. Matsuyama (JPN): -3 (36)
T3. Gotterup: -3 (36)
T3. Jaeger (GER): -3 (30)
T3. McNealy: -3 (27)
Anyway, this tournament feels like a U.S. Open from my youth, which makes me think the winner will be someone like Andy North or Lee Janzen.
ReplyDeletePotgieter bogeys the last two holes, shoots an even par 70, and goes into the clubhouse at 3 under.
ReplyDeleteThe last tournament like this that I remember was the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles C.C., where Wyndham Clark held off Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler for the title.
ReplyDeleteNow we have some movement on the leaderboard:
ReplyDelete1. McNealy: -5 (30)
2. Smalley: -4 (36)
T3. Matsuyama (JPN): -3 (36)
T3. Gotterup: -3 (36)
T3. Potgeiter (RSA): -3 (36)
T3. Jaeger (GER): -3 (33)
T3. Rahm (ESP): -3 (29)
Maverick McNealy, who is playing the round of his life, has moved to 6 under par through 32 holes. If he pars out, he will shoot a 65.
ReplyDelete