Swafford one shot ahead at La Quinta, Mickelson four back
>> LA QUINTA: American journeyman Hudson Swafford, seeking his first PGA Tour title, continued to reap the benefits of hard work on his swing as he earned a one-shot lead after Friday’s second round of the US$5.8 million CareerBuilder Challenge.
On a rare wet and cold day in the California desert, Swafford birdied three of the four par-fives to card a seven-under 65 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, one of three venues hosting the pro-am event formerly called the Bob Hope Classic.
Swafford, who produced good form last week to tie for 13th at the Sony Open in Hawaii, posted a 14-under total of 130, with first-round leader Dominic Bozzelli and New Zealand’s Danny Lee equal second on 13 under.
PGA Tour rookie Bozzelli, the only player in the field to go bogeyfree after 36 holes, fired a 67 at La Quinta Country Club where South Korea-born Lee returned an eightbirdie 64.
Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, a perennial fan favourite at the tournament where he is the biggest name competing this week, ended the day four strokes off the pace after a 66 on the rain-softened Nicklaus layout.
Swafford was delighted to maintain good form as he racked up seven birdies in a bogey-free display.
“I hit a lot of good quality iron shots, hit a lot of good putts... some that went in, some that lipped out,” he told Golf Channel. “Just gave myself a lot of chances.”
“I’ve kind of got my golf swing more up and down the plane, instead of a little laid off,” Swafford said of his recent work with swing coach Scott Hamilton. “Just really focusing on rhythm with everything I do.”