Film at 11: Muñoz seizes 3-stroke lead
PGA Tour rookie Sebastian Muñoz has found a comfortable routine at the Greenbrier Classic — go play golf, then watch a movie at night.
After catching “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” following an opening-round 61, Muñoz kept it going Friday, shooting a 3-under-par 67 to improve to 12under 128 for a three-stroke lead over Ben Martin and Hudson Swafford heading into the weekend on the Old White TPC in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
On Friday night, his plans were the same.
“I’m here with one of my best buddies, so we’re just going to hang out and watch a movie and be ready for tomorrow,” Muñoz said.
Muñoz has been in this situation before. At the St. Jude Classic last month, he was tied for the lead through 36 holes, but played the final two rounds in 11 over and finished tied for 60th.
“I feel like Memphis taught me that maybe I was caring too much, trying to hit too many perfect shots all the time,” Muñoz said, adding that he will “just take those past experiences and use them this week.”
Muñoz earned his PGA Tour card through the Web.com Tour last year. He’s still looking for his first top-10 finish.
Starting his second round on the back nine, Muñoz birdied four of his first seven holes, making three putts of over 20 feet. After two bogeys on the front nine, he made a 13-footer for birdie from the fringe on the par-4 seventh.
Davis Love III, seeking to become the oldest winner on the PGA Tour, followed his firstround 63 with a 69. He was at 8 under, along with defending champion Danny Lee (68) and Russell Henley (64).
Phil Mickelson accomplished one thing he never managed with longtime caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay on the bag — he made the cut at the Greenbrier Classic. He did not play the weekend in three previous starts.
Mickelson had five bogeys and three birdies to shoot 72 and make the cut on the number at 1 under. Mickelson and Mackay announced after the U.S. Open they were parting ways. Tim Mickelson is carrying his brother’s bag for the rest of the year. LPGA Tour: Katherine Kirk shot a career-best 9-under 63 to take a three-stroke lead in the weather-delayed second round of the inaugural Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Oneida, Wis.
The 35-year-old Australian played the back nine in 7-under 29 and was 13 under through two rounds.
Kirk finished her round before a 3 hour, 30-minute delay for lightning in the area.
Jaye Marie Green birdied eight of her final 12 holes to shoot 66 and was three strokes back. Sandra Gal also was 10 under through 13 holes before play was suspended because of darkness. European Tour: Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the Irish Open for the fourth time in five years, leading the four-time major winner to express concerns about parts of his game ahead of the British Open.
He shot 1-over 73 in his second round over the links at Portstewart, Northern Ireland, and at a total of 145 was four strokes below the cut mark and 14 strokes behind co-leaders Benjamin Hebert and Daniel Im.
“My short game is not sharp enough and I’m making silly mistakes,” said McIlroy.