Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
DeChambeau takes Harbour Town lead
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Bryson DeChambeau shot a career-best 7-under 64 on Friday to take the lead into the weekend at the RBC Heritage Classic.
DeChambeau’s first event as a pro was at Harbour Town Golf Links in 2016. Two years later, he posted his lowest ever on the PGA Tour to get to 10-under 132, one ahead of red-hot Ian Poulter and Si Woo Kim.
Poulter showed he’s not done playing high-level golf with a bogey-free 64. Kim, The Players Championship winner, had a 65 that included a two-shot penalty for touching sand after a bunker shot.
Two shots behind DeChambeau were Chasson Hadley (68), past RBC Heritage winner Brandt Snedeker (64), Luke List (64) and first-round leader Rory Sabbatini (70).
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson shot a second straight 69 and was tied for 26th, six shots off the lead.
DeChambeau, 24, jump started his round with an eagle on the par-5 and took over the lead with birdies on the 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes. He made a kneeknocking, 12-footer for par on the 18th hole after his approach landed in a frontside bunker. DeChambeau pumped his fist when the ball curled in, as pleased with his improved putting as his composure at rallying late to the lead.
“Two years, it’s time,” DeChambeau said.
He won for the first time on tour last summer, shooting a pair of 65s on the way to taking the John Deere Classic. He’s had three top 10s this season, including a second last month at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. DeChambeau’s certain his play at Harbour Town is simply the next step in his progress to the top.
“I’m figuring out a lot of great things that are helping me on the golf course,” he said. Wrong birdie: Kelly Kraft got a birdie, just not the one he wanted at the RBC Heritage.
Kraft’s ball hit a bird in flight on the par-3 14th hole, and the ball dropped into the water in front of the green.
Kraft made double bogey and finished at 1-over par on Harbour Town Golf Links, missing the cut by a stroke.
Kraft told PGATour.com the bad break cost him the cut. He said his tee shot felt perfect and was on a good line until fate took over.
Kraft’s group asked for a ruling, figuring the player would simply re-tee without penalty. Instead, because the bird is not a manmade object, Kraft had to play it as a ball in the water.
Kraft said his ball glanced off a large black bird that flew off after the glancing blow. Mitsubishi Electric Classic: Jay Haas nearly shot his age Friday to take the lead into today’s 36-hole finish in the PGA Tour Champions’ in Duluth, Ga.
The 64-year-old Haas birdied the final two holes in breezy conditions at TPC Sugarloaf for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke lead over Steve Flesch. Bernhard Langer shot 67, and Gene Sauers and Scott Parel followed at 68.
Facing a forecast of 1 inches of rain overnight Sunday and the threat of lightning Sunday, tournament officials decided to play both the second and third rounds Saturday.
“The guys were saying we’ve got to play 54, so this gives us that opportunity,” Haas said. “It will be a long day. Thankfully, we can get in carts. This is a long walking golf course. I’m pretty whipped today. I didn’t get in the cart today, but I’ll probably be in there a little bit tomorrow.”
Haas won the last of his 18 senior titles at the 2016 Toshiba Classic.
“I had a decent year last year, not what I wanted maybe, and then starting off this year I’ve been pretty poor,” Haas said. “Haven’t been 100 percent physically, but I’m feeling better.”
He birdied all four par-5 holes in a bogey-free round. The nine-time PGA Tour winner birdied four of the first six holes — the par-4 first and third and par-5 fourth and sixth. He added a birdie on the par-5 10th and closed with the birdies on the par-4 17th and par-5 18th.
Flesch also birdied the final two holes in a bogey-free round.