Blazing Holmes holds Phoenix halfway lead
American enjoys raucous atmosphere in the event, shoots 65
>> SCOTTSDALE: JB Holmes shot a blistering six-under 65 on Friday to seize a one-shot lead over firstround leader Wyndham Clark at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open.
Holmes posted six birdies, one eagle and two bogeys to emerge with a 13-under total 129 at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium course in the Arizona desert.
“Hit it really good in the middle of the round,” said Holmes, who won at Scottsdale in 2006 and 2008 for the first two of his five Tour titles.
“Didn’t hit it quite as good towards the end, but putted really well and was able to make some birdies.”
Holmes is still looking for his first win since his final-round collapse at the British Open six months ago when he closed with an 87.
His last win came at the 2019 Genesis Open last February.
Holmes teed off on the 10th and it wasn’t long before he got his putter going. He birdied three holes in a four hole stretch beginning at No.13 then eagled the parfour 17 with a nice approach and a six foot putt to grab a share of the lead.
“I was just worried about it maybe going too far left,” Holmes said of his approach on 17. “But when I hit it, I thought I hit it about right and hopefully it would hit into that bank or bounce just up and it did.”
Holmes, who suffers from vertigo, underwent two brain surgeries in 2011 before returning to the Tour the next year.
He enjoys the raucous atmosphere in the Phoenix event and says he is in a good frame of mind.
“There’s going to be a lot of people. It’s going to be really loud,” Holmes said. “Just keep doing what I’ve been doing, hopefully, keep making putts and not change the strategy. It’s worked pretty good so far.”
Clark, who fired a 61 on Thursday, shot a 69 to take sole possession of second at 12-under 130.
World No. 51 Jordan Spieth struggled to a 69 and missed the cut after an embarrassing 74 on Thursday.
He needs to move within the top 50 to qualify for this month’s WGCMexico Championship.
Defending champion Rickie Fowler rebounded from another first round 74 with a six-under 65 and just made the cut.