After carding 65, Holmes has lead GOLF

J.B. Holmes roared through the fanpacked closing stretch at TPC Scottsdale on his opening nine Friday, then grabbed the lead on the mellower side of golf ’s biggest party.

Six months after a finalround collapse and slowplay controversy at the British Open, Holmes took a onestroke lead over Wyndham Clark at the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. Holmes shot 6underpar 65, a day after making a holeinone in an opening 64.

“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.”

Holmes played a fivehole stretch on his first nine in 5under with birdies on the par5 13th and 15th and par3 16th, and an eagle on the short par4 17th.

“Hit it really good in the middle of the round,” Holmes said. “Didn’t hit it quite as good toward the end, but putted really well and was able to make some birdies.”

European Tour:

Victor Perez birdied four of his last six holes to shoot a second straight 5under 65 and take a onestroke lead after the second round of the Saudi International at King Abdullah Economic City.

The French golfer ranked No. 41 in the world has one European Tour victory. Gavin Green of Malaysia, who shared the lead with Graeme McDowell after a firstround 64, was Perez’s nearest rival at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club after shooting 67. McDowell (68) was a shot further back.

Green and Perez will play in the final group Saturday on the course next to the Red Sea and they know each other well, having been roommates at the University of New Mexico for four years.

Seeking to successfully defend the title, Dustin Johnson is five shots off the lead after shooting 68 to follow up his firstround 67. He was tied for eighth. Phil Mickelson, another big name to commit to the tournament despite criticism of the tour coming to a country with its record of humanrights violations, shot 70 and was one stroke further back.

PGA Tour Champions:

Stephen Ames shot a 3under 69 to take a threestroke lead into the final round of the Morocco Champions in Marrakech. Ames had a 12under 132 total at Samanah Golf Club in the senior tour’s first event in Africa.

Hall of Famers Bernhard Langer (68) and Jose Maria Olazabal (68) were tied for second with Brett Quigley (66).