New putter a winner
DUSTIN Johnson was handed a new putter 15 minutes before he teed off yesterday and shot a nine-under 63 for a one-shot lead at the World Golf Championships event in Shanghai.
First-round leader Brooks Koepka carded a 68 to be second at 12 under but Australia’s Jason Day struggled his way to a 74, with five bogeys and three birdies.
Johnson birdied his last four holes at Sheshan International using a TaylorMade Spider with a different insert.
The world No. 1 was on the range when he got the new putter, rapped a few shots on the practice green and then made just about everything he looked at.
Koepka birdied his first two holes and two of his last three holes in his round. Justin Rose shot a 68 and was four shots off Johnson at nine under, alongside Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (70).
Scott Hend leads the Australian contingent after a 68 left him at five under, in a tie for 12th. Day is tied 38th at one under with Adam Scott (72) at even par.
MEANWHILE Australian golfer Min Woo Lee catapulted into the lead at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Championship in Wellington courtesy of an 18th-hole eagle.
Lee, who went into the second round at Royal Wellington tied second, carded a three-under-par 71 yesterday to grab the outright lead at the halfway mark.
The 19-year-old West Australian finished with a birdiebirdie-eagle flourish to take a one-stroke lead over China’s Yuxin Lin, with overnight leader Shae Wools-Cobb of Queensland slipping to third a further shot back.
Lee, the younger brother of LPGA player Minjee Lee, is the longest hitter on the six-strong Australian team, but it has been his putter which has put him in the lead.
“It has been a while since I’ve holed a putt that long. It just happened at the right time,” said Lee, who won last year’s US Junior Amateur and was runner-up in this year’s Australian Amateur.
“I was feeling pretty low on the back nine and not pumped up, then I got a kick-on from Ritchie [Smith],” said Lee of his coach handling caddie duties this week.