Langer surges ahead at Senior Open
STEVENS POINT, Wis. — Bernhard Langer has been able to avoid most of the trouble at SentryWorld in the U.S. Senior Open. He still was far from unscathed Friday in a 3-under 68 that gave him the secondround lead.
“Believe it or not, I had two three-putts and a hit a sand wedge from the middle of the fairway into the water hazard, which is painful when you think about that from 100 yards,” the 65year-old German star said after his morning round.
Langer had six birdies and three bogeys a day after having a birdie and a bogey in an opening 71. On Friday, he hit 12 of 14 fairways on the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course with thick rough and tricky, inconsistent greens. At 3-under 139, he was one of only five players under par.
“The course is tough, but it’s fair, and it’s a great setup,” Langer said. “I’m fortunate to be playing well and look forward to the weekend.”
The 2010 U.S. Senior Open winner at Sahalee in Washington, Langer won the Chubb Classic in Florida in February to tie Hale Irwin for the PGA Champions Tour’s career victory record of 45.
First-round leader Rod Pampling was a stroke back, following an opening 68 with a 72. The 53-year-old Australian had a birdie and two bogeys in the afternoon session.
“The putter didn’t cooperate as well as it did yesterday,” Pampling said. “Nothing to stress about.”
Home-state favorite Jerry Kelly (70) was 1 under with two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (71) and Dicky Pride (69).
“Greens were — I couldn’t really tell,” Kelly said. “Some fast putts weren’t fast. Some slow putts were fast.”
Goosen played alongside Langer.
“It played just the same as yesterday,” Goosen said. “Very tricky, tough. Miss the fairway, you pray for a half-decent lie.”
Kelly and 2019 champion Steve Stricker — both from Madison, about 100 miles to the south — will play together Saturday. Stricker shot a 70 to join two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els (71) at even par.
Sticker won the first two senior majors of the year and took the Madison event three weeks ago for his fourth victory of the season.
“I’m right in there,” Stricker said. “The scores aren’t going anywhere. It’s very challenging. It’s very tough. If you don’t hit the fairway, you’re scrambling.”
Sacrificing distance for accuracy, Langer frequently hit 3-wood instead of driver.
“I’m not the longest guy out here, but I still feel many times the 3wood is a better club for me off the tee,” Langer said.
Moore, Pendrith share Classic lead
Taylor Moore and Taylor Pendrith shared the Rocket Mortgage Classic lead at 13 under Friday, hoping to hold off a veteran trying to end a victory drought and a promising young pro aiming for his first PGA Tour victory.
Pendrith shot an 8under 64 at Detroit Golf Club, one off the tournament record. Moore, who began the day tied with Monday qualifier Peter Kuest, had a 67 to match Pendrith at 13-under 131.
Rickie Fowler (65) and former top-ranked amateur Ludvig Aberg (67) were a shot back after two straight solid rounds.
The 34-year-old Fowler jumped into contention, chipping in for eagle from 27 feet on the par-5 17th. Fowler set himself up with a chance to for his first win since 2019 at the U.S. Open two weeks ago with an opening 62 before closing with a 75 to plummet into a fifthplace tie.
“We can’t try and press too hard,” he said. “Definitely know we can win. How I’ve played is some of the best, if not the best, I’ve felt about my game and on the course really ever.”
The 23-year-old Aberg, who starred at Texas Tech, finished the season No. 1 in the PGA Tour University ranking. The Swede became the first player to go straight from college to PGA Tour membership without going through Q-school or earning enough money or points from sponsor exemptions.
Collin Morikawa (67), Justin Lower (65), Aaron Rai (68), Adam Schenk (68) were 11 under, two strokes behind the leaders.
Kokrak, Johnson tied at LIV Spain
Jason Kokrak had to go through four countries over three days to reach Spain and then managed a 4-under 67 to share the lead with Dustin Johnson in LIV Golf-Valderrama at Sotogrande, Spain.
Johnson was coming off a tie for 10th in the U.S. Open two weeks ago for his best finish in a major this year. He played bogey-free over his last 16 holes at Valderrama as he goes for his second LIV win this year.
Kokrak was supposed to leave his home in northern Ohio on Monday until flight cancellations led to an unusual itinerary. He wound up going from Cleveland to Detroit to Amsterdam to Frankfurt, Germany, and then on to Malaga in the south of Spain. He arrived Wednesday morning. His golf clubs got there Thursday evening.
Anirban Lahiri was one shot behind after a 68.
“You’re going to make bogeys around this golf course, and if you drive it straight and drive it in the fairway here, you’re going to make a couple birdies and be in the mix,” Kokrak said.
British Open champion Cameron Smith had six birdies and shot 69.