golf
Dodt holds halfway lead in Australia
NASSAU, Bahamas, Dec 2, (Agencies): When it comes to major breakthroughs, J.B. Holmes and Hideki Matsuyama hope they can follow the path of Jordan Spieth, who used momentum from a 2014 Hero World Challenge title to win two majors in 2015.
Holmes fired an eight-under 64 to seize a one-stroke lead over Maruyama after Thursday’s first round of the 18-man Bahamas invitational event hosted by Tiger Woods, who made his return after a 16-month layoff with a 73.
Spieth won the 2014 Australian Open, then took the Challenge crown and a 2015 PGA event in Florida, momentum that carried into victories at the 2015 Masters and US Open for his first major titles.
Matsuyama and Holmes would not mind similar success at the Challenge this week and the momentum carryover in the majors next year.
Holmes is coming off a 2016 season that saw him finish fourth at the Masters and third at the British Opens, the best major results of his career, and enjoy six top-six efforts in all. But he hasn’t won since the 2015 Houston Open.
In Gold Coast, Australia, Australia’s Andrew Dodt fired a five-under 67 to hold a two-shot halfway lead in the Australian PGA Championship with Adam Scott making his move at the Royal Pines Resort Friday.
Overnight leader Dodt fought his way to the top of the leader board after Ashley Hall carded a three-under 69 to be the early clubhouse leader.
Dodt holed six birdies and a bogey in the lowest round of the day to get to 12 under and lead at the halfway stage of the European Tour co-sanctioned event.
World number seven and 2013 US Masters champion Adam Scott surged home in 32 for a second consecutive round of 68 to be at eight under and four strokes behind Dodt.
In Malelane, South Africa, defending champion Charl Schwartel birdied the last hole for a share of the firstround lead at the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship on Thursday.
Schwartzel tapped in on No. 18 for a 66 to join Paul Dunne on 6 under at Leopard Creek Country Club. Schwartzel is a four-time winner of the Alfred Dunhill and has claimed the title in three of the last four events.
Home favorite Schwartzel made most of his gains on the back nine, with five birdies coming home. Ireland’s Dunne made four birdies either side of a double-bogey six on No. 9.
In New Delhi, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond jumped into the lead with a seven-under-par on the fog-affected second day of the Panasonic Open India tournament in New Delhi on Friday.
The 21-year-old finished on 69 through 14 holes after dense fog hit play for the second consecutive day.
Organisers decided to truncate the $400,000 Asian Tour event to three rounds after a total of seven hours’ play was lost over the first two days.
Jazz is currently four-under for the round with four holes to play.
Sri Lankan Mithun Perera fired one eagle and two birdies against a bogey to trail Jazz by two shots with six holes to play.