Hahn shoots 65 to lead Phoenix Open
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — James Hahn shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 on Friday to take the lead in the suspended second round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Hahn had a 10-under 132 total on TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course to enter the weekend a stroke ahead of Rickie Fowler and Danny Lee. Fowler birdied his final hole for a 68, and Lee had a 66.
An estimated 160,415 fans, not counting a large bobcat that sauntered between the first and second holes in the afternoon, packed the grounds. The crowd broke the Friday record of 123,674 set in 2014 and was the 10thlargest figure for any day in tournament history.
DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC: In Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Ernie Els surged into contention Friday at the Dubai Desert Classic, while Rory McIlroy struggled just to make the cut.
The 46-year-old Els, who has dropped to 205th in the world after struggling with yips over the past year, shot a 5-under 67 to move to within one shot of the lead at the halfway stage of a tournament he has won three times.
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello, winner here in 2012, shot his second consecutive 67 to grab a one-stroke lead heading into the weekend.
Defending champion McIlroy shot a 72 to finish at 4-under 140 after two rounds, six shots off the lead. He had three birdies in his last three holes.
LPGA: In Ocala, Fla., Lydia Ko hit the ball only 22 times in a span of 11 hours Friday in the Coates Golf Championship and finished where she started — with a share of the lead, and still a long way from the finish line.
Ko three-putted from 15 feet for bogey in 39-degree weather to finish the raindelayed second round in the morning. In the afternoon, she made one birdie in six holes to get back to 7-under par and share the lead with Ha Na Jang.
None of the 75 players who made the cut finished the third round, which was to resume today.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS: In Boca Raton, Fla., former major champions Corey Pavin and Todd Hamilton shot 6-under 66s in blustery conditions to share the first-round lead in the Allianz Championship.
Pavin made four birdies in a five-hole stretch on The Old Course despite 20-mph winds and temperatures in the 50s at the start of the PGA Tour Champions event.
Hamilton reeled off four consecutive birdies on his back nine.