Putnam leading Mickelson by one after late surge
Andrew Putnam made a late charge to pass three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson and take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Houston Open.
The 26-year-old Putman, who made his PGA Tour debut here a year ago, birdied six of his final nine holes on the Golf Course of Houston’s front side for a 7-under 65. He was at 12-under 132.
“Solo lead ... that’s pretty cool,” said Putnam.
He said he didn’t see it coming.
“I haven’t been playing good or scoring well,” Putnam said. “Both have been bad. But (I’m) doing both well this week.”
Mickelson, who won the event in 2011, shot 67 for a share of second place at 133. Another late finisher, qualifier Austin Cook, matched Putnam for the day’s low scores with a 65 of his own to tie Mickelson.
“It was unbelievable,” said Cook, who played the final nine holes at 5 under and birdied the last one. “It was great. I’m really, really comfortable with my swing and my game right now and it’s kind of showing.”
Graham DeLaet (67) and Luke Guthrie (68) were tied for fourth at 134.
Scott Piercy, who had a two-shot lead after a course record-tying 63 in the first round, had a 74.
Mickelson made a 25foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th hole to get to 12 under, but he hit a rare errant drive on the par-4 17th and took a bogey.
“I just blocked it a little bit, not a very good swing,” he said. “I certainly let that one get away. But I’ve driven it very well this week ... hit a lot of fairways. My short game has been sharp, too. I’ve hit some good pitches. The putter feels a lot better, but it’s felt better for a while. I’m excited about this weekend. It’s going to be a shootout.”
Weather conditions were perfect for scoring low.
“It’s a fun tournament and it’s fun to have put myself in a (good) position to have a chance,” Mickelson said. “That’s an important thing for me heading into next week, to get into contention, to feel the pressure. Because the pressure that you feel trying to win the Masters is greater than just about anything we have.”
Another eVent
at Rancho Mirage, Calif.: Lydia Ko missed a chance to break the LPGA Tour record for consecutive rounds under par, closing with a bogey for a 1-over 73 on Friday in the second round.
Needing a birdie on the par-5 18th to extend her streak to 30, the 17-yearold New Zealander hit her second shot into the water after catching a flyer out of the right rough on her layup attempt. After a penalty drop, her fourth shot rolled 15 feet past and she missed the putt.
“I just wasn’t hitting fairways and then it just kind of becomes no fun,” Ko said. “It’s fun because you’re trying to hit hook shots and low shots out of the trees. In that way it’s fun, but no, I just really couldn’t get my driver going. When you’re in that kind of position, it’s not easy around this course.”
On Thursday, Ko shot a 71 to tie the record set by Annika Sorenstam in 2004. Ko’s worldwide streak, counting her victory in the Ladies European Tour’s New Zealand Women’s Open, ended at 32.
Ko was seven strokes behind leader Sei Young Kim. Before Ko started her afternoon round, Kim eagled the 18th for a 65 to get to 7-under 137. The long-hitting South Korean player hit a hybrid to 6 feet to set up her eagle.
“I really hit the ball well and my putting was really good,” Kim said. “Everything was really good.”
First-round leader Morgan Pressel was second at 5 under after a 72.
Lexi Thompson, the defending champion, was tied for sixth at 3 under with third-ranked Stacy Lewis.