Munoz extends lead at Greenbrier Classic
4 Canadians, Mickelson successful in making cut
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — PGA Tour rookie Sebastian Munoz has found a comfortable routine at The Greenbrier Classic — go play golf, then watch a movie at night.
After catching “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” following an opening-round 61, Munoz kept it going Friday, shooting a 3-under 67 for a three-stroke lead over Ben Martin and Hudson Swafford heading into the weekend on the Old White TPC.
On Friday night, his plans were the same. “I’m here with one of my best buddies, so we’re just going to hang out and watch a movie and be ready for tomorrow,” Munoz said.
Munoz has been in this situation before. At the St. Jude Classic last month, Munoz was tied for the lead through 36 holed, but he played the final two rounds in 11 over and finished tied for 60th.
“I feel like Memphis taught me that maybe I was caring too much, trying to hit too many perfect shots all the time,” Munoz said. “(I’ll) just take those past experiences and use them this week.”
Martin shot 67 and Swafford had a 66. Both were at 9 under.
Davis Love III, seeking to become the oldest-ever winner on the PGA Tour, followed up his first-round 63 with a 69. He was at 8 under, along with defending champion Danny Lee (68) and Russell Henley (64).
Nick Taylor (69) of Abbotsford was five shots back, while David Hearn (69) of Brantford, Ont., Graham DeLaet (70) of Weyburn, Sask., were six back at 6 under. Mackenzie Hughes (67) of Dundas, Ont., was eight back.
Phil Mickelson accomplished one thing he never managed with longtime caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay on the bag — he made the cut at The Greenbrier Classic. He did not play the weekend in three previous starts.
Mickelson had five bogeys and three birdies to shoot 72 and make the cut on the number at 1 under.
“This has been probably the two worst putting days I’ve had this year,” said Mickelson. “The greens are perfect. I just haven’t putted well.”
Mickelson and Mackay announced after the U.S. Open they were parting ways. Tim Mickelson is carrying his brother’s bag for the rest of the year. Mackay has signed to do on-course commentary for NBC and Golf Channel.
Munoz, a 24-year-old Colombian, played his college golf at North Texas and said he got a wake-up call when his coach threatened to take away his scholarship for his senior year. Then, former college teammate Carlos Ortiz won three times in his first season on the Web.com Tour in 2014.
“I talked to him and was like, ‘Hey, man, I know you’re good, but come on. Like, I can get you sometimes,”’ Munoz said. “So that really helped me kind of push through and realize I was good as well.”
Munoz won the Conference USA individual title in 2015 and earned his PGA Tour card through the Web.com Tour last year. He’s still looking for his first top-10 finish.
Starting his second round on the back nine, Munoz birdied four of his first seven holes, making three putts of over 20 feet. After two bogeys on the front nine, he made a 13-footer for birdie from the fringe on the par-4 seventh. He was at 12-under 128.
No first-round leader has won at Old White TPC since the tournament debuted in 2010. Munoz’s closest challengers all have victories on tour.
Swafford won the CareerBuilder Challenge in January and has two other top-10 finishes this season, while Martin won in Las Vegas in 2014.