English stays hot, takes two-shot lead

Ideal weather highlights debut event

KAPALUA, Hawaii — A new year, and Harris English keeps right on rolling.

English finished with a 10-foot birdie to cap off an ideal Friday of low scores and whale watching at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. His 6-under 67 gave him a two-shot lead over a quartet of players that includes defending champion Justin Thomas.

Even with a lead, it feels as though the first PGA Tour event of the year is wide open. With virtually no wind, rare for the Plantation Course at Kapalua, scores remained low and several players were stacked up behind him. Among them was Masters champion Dustin Johnson, who hit it close enough all round to make a few putts in his round of 65.

“Felt like I got back in the tournament a little bit,” said Johnson, playing for the first time since his Nov. 15 victory at Augusta National.

English is among 16 players at the winners-only event who didn’t win last year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic that wiped out three months on the tour schedule, anyone who reached the Tour Championship qualified this year.

English, whose last

Harris English Daniel Berger Collin Morikawa Ryan Palmer Justin Thomas victory was just over seven years ago at the Mexican resort of Mayakoba, did everything but win. He was No. 369 in the world when he lost his full card, played his way into East Lake and now is among the top 30 in the world. All he lacks is a victory.

English was at 14-under 132, two shots ahead of Thomas, PGA champion Collin Morikawa (65), Daniel Berger (65) and Ryan Palmer (67), another player who didn’t win in 2020 and was happy to be here.

Xander Schauffele holed an 80-foot eagle putt on the 18th for a 66 and was in the group at 11-under 135 that included Patrick Reed, who had a 68. Another shot behind was the group that included Johnson, Jon Rahm (66) and U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau (67).

“It’s going to be a race to the finish,” Palmer said.

The average score was 68.29, the lowest since the tournament moved to Kapalua in 1999. Hideki Matsuyama was the only player from the 42-man field who was over par through two rounds.