Kirk goes low at Honda, trails Suh by 1 shot
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. >> There have been about 7,200 rounds played at the Honda Classic since it moved to PGA National 17 years ago.
Only two of those were better than the one turned in Friday by Chris Kirk.
Kirk shot an 8-under 62 in the second round, moving him to 9 under for the week and one shot behind Justin Suh (64) at the tournament’s midway point. Kirk had an eagle and six birdies, hitting 16 greens and taking advantage of no wind blowing in the morning — very rare for PGA National.
“Usually we’re playing for 15-, 20-plus yards of hurt going into the wind shots, and 15, 20 yards of help on downwind shots,” Kirk said. “It’s really difficult to get those just right when it’s really windy. But today there was hardly a breath most of the round, and so it became a little bit more target practice.”
Suh had four consecutive birdies on holes 8 through 11, rolling in putts from 5, 15, 25 and 30 feet in that span, to post a 36-hole total of 10-under 130.
“I think we’ve been trending in the right direction,” Suh said. “Every week I’ve been improving and just certain spots, and I think it’s gratifying just to see the progressive work pay off.”
There was no shortage of players taking dead aim. Ryan Gerard (63) and Ben Taylor (65) were tied for third at 8 under. Ben Martin (64), Eric Cole (66) and Brice Garnett (64) were all another shot back.
“Anything around here around that par or below, you can’t be too upset about,” said U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson, who celebrated his 47th birthday with a 67 to get to 5 under for the week.
Gerard was a Monday qualifier. This is only his second PGA Tour event as a pro, and his first made cut.
“I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else,” Gerard said. “This is my dream ever since I was a little kid, just playing PGA Tour events. I’m still on the road there,
Justin Suh hits onto the 16th green during the second round of the Honda Classic on Friday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
not officially made it yet, but I just really enjoy playing golf. I love everything about it. I love the competition. I love challenging myself. I love playing against the best players and seeing how I stack up.”
Shane Lowry shot his second consecutive 68, highlighted by a 57-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th — his ball staying on-line even after rolling over another player’s coin on its way to the hole.
DIVOTS: The only sub62 rounds at the Honda since it moved to PGA National came from Brian Harman (2012) and Matt Jones (2021). Tiger Woods had a final-round 62 in 2012 at PGA National and finished tied for second, two shots back of Rory Mcilroy . ... Kyle Stanley hit his tee shot on the par-3 15th into the water, took a drop, then holed out with a wedge from 95 yards for par. ... Jhonattan Vegas tapped in for birdie on 18 and made the cut on the number at 1-over 141 . ... Defending champion Sepp Straka had two birdies and 16 pars Friday. He’s 3 under . ... Joseph Bramlett and Billy Horschel both shot 65 on Thursday to be in a tie for the lead; both shot 73 on Friday.
Vongtaveelap leads LPGA Thailand after 7-under 65
PATTAYA, THAILAND >> Natthakritta Vongtaveelap finished strongly with six birdies on the back nine to take
a one-shot lead over Maja Stark after a 7-under 65 in the second round at the LPGA Thailand.
The 20-year-old Thai had two birdies against a bogey on the front nine holes before six more birdies, including four straight on Nos. 1215, for 12-under 132 overall at Siam Country Club.
“I played according to my game plan even though I didn’t putt the way I would have wanted at the front nine,” said Vongtaveelap, who earned her tour card through Q-school last December. “But after I started making birdies at the back, I was getting more and more confident.”
She has won all three events she has competed in this season, including two on a local tour.
“Of course I’m confident with my game now but other players have more experience than I do,” Vongtaveelap said.
Stark had an error-free 67. “It was very steady,” the 23-year-old Swede said. “I think I only really had to save one par. Solid irons.”
Nelly Korda (66) had an eagle on the 10th along with five birdies and a bogey to share third on 10 under with Celine Boutier (66), Emily Kristine Pedersen (67), Jaravee Boonchant (69) and Jenny Shin (68).
Korda is hoping to match her sister Jessica Korda’s win here in 2018.
“It would be great,” Nelly Korda said. “Still 36 holes away from that.”
World No. 1 Lydia Ko (68) is tied for 15th.
Casey, Kokrak share lead as LIV Golf begins season in Mexico
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO >> Paul Casey birdied his last three holes for a 6-under 65 and a share of the lead with Jason Kokrak as the second season of Saudi-funded LIV Golf began at Mayakoba.
Casey was 5 under through 10 holes before he lost ground with a double bogey on the par-4 second hole. He responded with a hat trick of birdies to close out his round on the El Camaleon golf course at the resort south of Cancun.
Kokrak played bogeyfree, chipping in for one birdie and holing a couple of lengthy putts.
They were two shots clear of Peter Uihlein, Talor Gooch and Carlos Ortiz, one of two Mexican players who are part of the 48-man LIV roster.
Mayakoba previously hosted a PGA Tour event in the fall from 2007 until November, when the resort moved over to LIV Golf.
Dustin Johnson, who won the points list and its $18 million bonus last year while leading his 4Aces to the team title, was slowed by consecutive bogeys in the middle of his round. He was part of the group at 68.
Casey plays for the Crushers, and three of their four scores added to 10-under par for a three-shot advantage over Johnson’s squad and the Smash team that is cap- tained by Brooks Koepka.
LIV caused a major disruption in golf last year by spending some $2 billion in bonus money to attract big names. The PGA Tour suspended those players, leading to a lawsuit.
The four-month offseason brought some additional players, though the highest-ranked of the lot was Thomas Pieters at No. 35 in the world. The Belgian said he only joined when a spot became open because Hudson Swafford is having hip surgery and will be out for the remainder of the season.