DeChambeau just short of 59
Big, wide and soft Caves Valley didn’t stand a chance against Bryson DeChambeau on Friday in the BMW Championship in Owings Mill, Maryland. Only the record book did.
He had 17 putts inside 12 feet, and he made 16. Unfortunately, the one he missed left him a shot shy of shooting a 59.
DeChambeau, who could have birdied his final two holes to join Jim Furyk as the only players to shoot 58 on the PGA Tour, missed a 6-footer on the 18th hole after missing from 15 feet on the 17th and came up just short of golf ’s magic number.
The Big Man from Big D made two eagles and eight birdies to shoot a career-best 60, giving him a one-shot lead over Patrick Cantlay when thunderstorms caused the second round to be delayed.
Jon Rahm, the world’s No. 1 player, also was a shot behind and faced a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole when play was halted by darkness.
“A lot of putts went in. A lot of things went right,” DeChambeau said to broadcast outlets. “I played my butt off and never thought too much about anything until the last few holes. I just wasn’t able to clutch those putts up.”
† Bernhard Langer shot his age on his 64th birthday for a share of the lead with Marco Dawson in the suspended first round of the PGA Tour Champions’ The Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Langer had nine birdies and a bogey in the round that started about five hours late because of the rain.
† Dean Burmester took a one-stroke lead after the second round of the European Masters in Crans-Montana, Switzerland with five birdies in a 5-under 65.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Huggins gets two-year extension
West Virginia’s basketball coach Bob Huggins, 67, has agreed to a two-year contract extension that includes the option for him to step aside or continue at the helm after the 2023-24 season. He will earn $4.15 million in each of the next three seasons.
† Louisville suspended basketball coach Chris Mack for six games for failing to follow procedures in handling an extortion attempt by one of his assistants.
MISCELLANEOUS
Ronaldo returning to Man United
Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, is heading back to Manchester United, the team that turned him into a global superstar. In a fastmoving deal that stunned the soccer world, Ronaldo secured a return to Old Trafford — a day after he told Juventus he no longer wanted to play for the Italian club.
† Kurt Busch will drive next season for 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan.
† The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway was postponed because of heavy rain. ✶