Blazing Fowler and DeChambeau top, Spieth misses cut
>> PHOENIX: Rickie Fowler survived late miscues to share the lead at the PGA Tour Phoenix Open alongside Bryson DeChambeau on Friday, as two-time defending champion Hideki Matsuyama withdrew injured.
Fowler, ranked seventh in the world, got off to a blazing start at TPC Scottsdale with four birdies in his first six holes. He finished with seven birdies in his five-under 66 for 10-under 132.
He pushed his lead to as many as two strokes before a bogey at 17, and DeChambeau capped his 66 with back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18 to join Fowler in the clubhouse on 10-under.
“I just feel like I’m comfortable on this golf course, I’ve had quite a few rounds here and there’s been a lot of good ones,” said Fowler, adding that his plan for Saturday was to “just keep the gas pedal down.”
Daniel Berger and Chez Reavie both signed for 65s to lie one stroke back on 133.
Matsuyama’s bid for a rare threepeat was over before the round began as Japan’s world No.5 withdrew prior to hitting a shot on Friday with a left writ injury.
“The pain in my left thumb area started on 13th hole yesterday,” Matsuyama said. “I did some treatment last night, but the pain was still there this morning when I practised. I decided that it was not worth forcing myself to continue to play and worsen the injury, so I was disappointed that I had to withdraw.”
Former world No.1 Jordan Spieth also exited before the weekend, missing the cut by a stroke after a frustrating two days amid the raucous crowds of the Phoenix Open, where the atmosphere resembles that of a football match more than a staid golf event.
Spieth struggled to get any putts to drop as he posted rounds of one-over 72 and one-under 70 to lie one shot outside the projected cut line.
LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES
(Par-71, USA unless noted) 132 — Rickie Fowler 66-66, Bryson DeChambeau 66-66
133 — Daniel Berger 68-65, Chez Reavie 68-65
134 — Chesson Hadley 66-68, Scott Stallings 69-65, Chris Kirk 66-68
135 — Vaughn Taylor 67-68, Brendan Steele 68-67, Gary Woodland 67-68, Adam Hadwin (CAN) 70-65, An Byeong-Hun (KOR) 68-67, Jon Rahm (ESP) 67-68, Xander Schauffele 68-67, Phil Mickelson 70-65, Brian Gay 67-68, Steve Stricker 68-67, Martin Laird (SCO) 68-67