Two share lead at Honda Classic
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Ryan Palmer has reason to believe better days are ahead, with his golf game and at home.
Palmer made seven birdies Friday on another day of ideal scoring conditions at PGA National for a 5-under-par 65 that gave him a share of the lead with PGA Tour rookie Wesley Bryan (67) going into the weekend at the Honda Classic.
Rickie Fowler was a shot back after his second 66, and Anirban Lahiri was another stroke behind after a 68.
Starting a new year packed with uncertainty over matters far more important than golf, Palmer returned from a four-month break and missed the cut in his first four events. Despite a 49th-place finish in the Genesis Open last weekend at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, he believed he had generated some momentum — particularly with his putter — going into the tour’s Florida swing.
The long break last year was to be at home with his wife, Jennifer.
She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in late July while he was at the Canadian Open. She had surgery about five weeks later. Palmer’s season ended in September, and he spent the rest of the year helping her cope with chemotherapy and at home with their two children.
“I watched a few tournaments,” Palmer said. “There were times when she said I should have gone and played. I was going to play Vegas and I was going to play Malaysia, but after that there was no way I could play golf. Enjoyed time at home, took care of the kids. But it was a lot of hard times, for sure.”
The cut Friday was at par 140 — matching the highest line since the Honda Classic moved to PGA National in 2007 — and former Baylor School standouts Harris English and Luke List both made it.
After back-to-back 68s, List is one of six golfers tied for 11th place. English, who followed an opening 71 with a 69 to make the cut on the number, is part of a big crowd in 55th.
Among those missing the cut was Shawn Stefani, who did all he could to stick around for the weekend. One over the cut line with four holes to go, he drove into the water on No. 6, then stripped down to his underwear and blasted out to the fairway.
He still made bogey.
Waring in the lead
JOHANNESBURG — Paul Waring topped the Joburg Open leaderboard at 12 under after 12 holes of the second round when play was suspended because of darkness.
Waring was playing Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s par-71 West Course after opening with a 6-under 66 on the East Course, the site of the final two rounds.
South Africans Darren Fichardt and Dean Burmester were at 11 under.
Rainy in Thailand
CHONBURI, Thailand — Heavy rain washed out much of the competition Friday at the LPGA Thailand tournament.
Play was called for the day at 3:45 p.m., and 13 players didn’t start the second round, including co-leaders Ariya Jutanugarn and Amy Yang. Each shot a 6-under 66 Thursday at Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old Course.