Brilliant Brooks roars into Northern Trust lead
PThe newly minted PGA Cham-
tARAMUS, New Jersey: Brooks Koepka brilliantly ignited his quest for backto-back victories after reeling off a trio of birdies on his closing three holes to storm into a share of the second round lead at the Northern Trust in New Jersey on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
and go from there.”
Koepka started the day at four under par and was still at four under standing on the 12th.
But he launched his charge after landing a 63-foot greenside bunker shot to just three feet for birdie.
The triple Major-winner then drew roars with a 322-yard drive on the par- five 13th. He then ripped a 311-yard 3-wood to 23 feet before holing-out for an eagle.
“When I hit that 3-wood, it all clicked,” Koepka said.
- lease the golf club. I just tried to hit it as hard as I could, big draw. I aimed at the tree on the right and tried to draw everything started to click, other than
Koepka’s closing three birdies were from lengths of 11-foot, 10-
Australia’s Adam Scott, bizarrely carrying two putters in his bag with one a standard-size putter and other a long-handled version, recorded the lowest round of the week in signing for a seven-under-par 64 to be in third place at nine under.
Scott has been practicing with the short putter since the recent WGC - Bridgestone Invitational, and while there is nothing in the Rules of Golf to say he cannot have two putters in his bag, he revealed he’s only used it twice in now 14 rounds.
“The presence of the small putter in my bag has clearly scared the longer one into action,” Scott joked after recording just 26 putts.
No. 1 Dustin Johnson regrouped after starting his second round with a triple-bogey and then played his remaining 17 holes in four under, to be sharing fourth place on eight under with Bryson DeChambeau (66).
England’s Tommy Fleetwood at seven under par.
Tiger Woods faced a near hour
his scores of a pair of 71s was good enough to make the cut right on the level par mark.
American J.T. Poston had a bittersweet day, however, making a
the cut after shooting 75.
Also missing the cut was the European Ryder Cup confirmed foursome of Open Champion, Francesco Molinari (72, 72), Swe-
Justin Rose (72, 74), and Spaniard Jon Rahm (75, 73).