Koepka surges at WGC event
Brooks Koepka hit one his worst tee shots of the day that barely cleared the water on the 15th hole. That turned out to be the start of three consecutive birdies that led to a 6-under 66 and a one-shot lead Friday in the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship in Bradenton, Fla.
In some respects, that’s how his recent surge has been.
Coming off two missed cuts, Koepka won the Phoenix Open to end an 18-month drought. And now he’s starting to hit his stride with the first major of the year creeping up quickly.
Koepka hit a chip 9-iron to 6 feet for birdie on No. 15, nearly holed his wedge on the next hole and then birdied the par-5 17th with a splendid bunker shot across the ridges and down the slope to tap-in range.
He closed with a bogey by avoiding a deceptive pin near the water on the closing hole at The Concession. Koepka, who finished at 11-under 133, had a one-shot lead over Cameron Smith, Billy Horschel and reinging PGA champion Collin Morikawa, who made up ground quick with six birdies over his last 10 holes.
“Usually I can never find my game until The Players. That’s kind of when it starts to feel like it’s coming around,” Koepka said. “But the fact that it’s here a little bit early is nice.”
Phil opens near top
Phil Mickelson made a birdie after hitting out of the mud on the par-5 15th hole in a 3-under 70 at the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Ariz., putting him in contention for a third consecutive victory to open his PGA Tour Champions career. Mickelson was four shots behind Mike Weir, who had a bogey-free 66 in windy conditions at Tucson National. Scott Verplank holed out from a greenside bunker for birdie on the par-4 ninth to close out a 65. Mickelson is bidding to become the first player to win his first three starts on a PGA Toursanctioned tour.
Wu outlasts wind
Brandon Wu birdied the final two holes for a 5-under 67 and the second-round lead in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande. Wu played the back nine in 4 under at windy Grand Reserve. He birdied the par-4 12th, par5 15th, par-4 17th and par-5 18th to reach 11-under 133. Wu, 24, a former Stanford player, got into the field through the Korn Ferry Tour points list. He won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in August, and tied for 14th last week in Florida in the first Korn Ferry event since early October. Greg Chalmers was a stroke back after a 68.
Sorenstam earns extension
Annika Sorenstam went more than 12 years without playing on the LPGA Tour. Now she gets two more days. Sorenstam made three birdies after making the turn at Lake Nona and posted a 1-under 71 at the Gainbridge LPGA in Orlando, Fla. And even with the wrong ruling the previous day that led to an extra stroke, she still made the cut on the number. Sorenstam still was 12 shots out of the lead as Lydia Ko posted a 3-under 69 and took a one-shot lead over Nelly Korda (68).