Morikawa leads by two over Koepka, Horschel
MIAMI: World No. 6 Collin Morikawa fired eight birdies in a five-under-par 67 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to hold a twoshot lead over Brooks Koepka and Billy Horschel at the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship.
Morikawa, who claimed his first major title at the Professional Golfers’ Association Championship in August, led by as many as five strokes after an impressive run of seven birdies in eight holes at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.
“Got off to a really good start and just kept rolling birdie after birdie; really didn’t think about it. Game was playing really boring, playing simple, hitting fairways and hitting greens, and that’s what we try to do out here every day,” Morikawa said.
Two late bogeys and strong finishes for both Koepka and Horschel saw his lead shrink.
Koepka got off to a rocky start with bogeys at the first two holes. He pulled a shot back at the third and was back to even for the day after a
six-foot birdie at the 12th.
The four-time major winner, seeking his second victory of this month after a win at the Phoenix Open, drained another six-footer at the 16th; then, rolled in a 33-foot birdie putt at the 17th on the way to a two-under par 70.
He was joined on 203 by Horschel, who nailed a 14-foot birdie at 16 and a 12-foot eagle putt the par-five 17th the easiest hole on the course.
Morikawa wasn’t able to take advantage of 17, finding a fairway bunker off the tee and a greenside bunker with his third shot and missing a seven-foot attempt to save par. He had also dropped a shot at 13 unable to maintain the momentum that saw him streak ahead of the pack.
A 13-foot birdie at the fifth launched a run of five straight birdies that included a 31-footer at the sixth. He was still rolling with birdies at 11 and 12 before, coming in, things got shaky.
“By the time I hit 13, [I] just had a three-putt kind of stall and never really got it going again,” Morikawa said. “Missed some fairways; kind of was struggling to make pars. But all, just a lot of posi- to take into tomor-
Former US Open on Webb Simpson in third after a 69 Four-time major
McIlroy carded former Mas-
Patrick Reed
McIlroy, bogey at overtives row.” champiwas alone for 204. winner Rory a 66 to join ters champion (69) on 205. whose doublethe second was his second of the week, was buoyed by an eagle at the parfive 13th and seven birdies.
The Northern Ireland star said patience was key on the unfamiliar course, which is hosting the event after coronavirus pandemic logistical issues forced the move of the WGC-Mexico Championship.
“It seems like it’s one of these courses where it gives up a lot of birdies and some eagles and stuff, but it can bite you very quickly without really doing much wrong,” McIlroy said. “I’ve been riding the rollercoaster a little bit, but it felt a little better today.”
Morikawa said the potential for disaster at numerous holes meant his two-shot lead was far from safe.