A Harm to Leishman
American birdies 18th hole to share lead with Aussie
LOS ANGELES: Marc Leishman and Brian Harman both birdied the 18th to grab a one-shot second-round lead over world No. 1 Dustin Johnson in the PGA Tour Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
Australia’s Leishman, who held a one-stroke overnight lead, had four birdies without a bogey in his four-under 69 on the Plantation Course at Kapalua.
He was joined on 10-under 136 by American Harman, who had seven birdies in a five-under 68.
The leading duo pulled out of a tie with Johnson, who shook off back-to-back bogeys at the third and fourth holes to card seven birdies in a five-under 68 that left him on 137.
“I got off to a rough start, bogeyed three and four from the middle of the fairway,” Johnson said. “I was hitting some good shots, just didn’t score very well.”
Birdies at six, eight and nine “got me back in the rhythm, and I played a really solid back nine,” he added.
On another breezy day, Leishman notched the only bogey-free round of the day.
He rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-three second and drained an eight-footer at the par-three eighth.
He rolled in another eight-footer for a birdie at the par-four 14th, and at the par-five 18th he missed a 31-footer for eagle by inches and came up with the birdie.
“It was tough,” Leishman said of the windy conditions. “(I’m) really happy with four birdies, no bogeys. I feel like when I’m in this position I need to finish it off ... but a lot of golf to play.”
Harman’s seven birdies included a chip-in at the 15th – which came after his first chip failed to reach the green, rolling back toward him. He closed his round with a birdie putt from within four feet at the last.
Americans Pat Perez and Chris Stroud fired seven-under 66s to join Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas (70) on 138.
Three-time Major winner Jordan Spieth also carded a 66, bouncing back from an opening 75 to seize a share of 13th place, five strokes off the lead.
Defending champion Justin Thomas carded a disappointing two-over 75 that left him at even par in the 34-man tournament featuring last season’s tournament winners. — AFP