Kitayama handles Bay Hill wind as Rahm falters
Kurt Kitayama is chasing his first PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a worldclass group of contenders right behind him.
Kitayama should be used to that.
Last year alone, he fell one shot sort of Jon Rahm in Mexico, Xander Schauffele in Scotland and Rory Mcilroy in South Carolina.
Kitayama handled the wind that only made Bay Hill tougher, posting a 4-under 68 for a two-shot lead over Jordan Spieth, a three-time major champion and former No. 1 player in the world.
“Right now I feel like I’m just trying to get that win,” Kitayama said. “It’s tough, especially with the guys I’ve been against. So I’ve just got to keep putting myself in that position to give myself a chance.”
Rahm finally looked human. His final five holes included a double bogey, three bogeys and a birdie. He shot 76, his highest score since a 76 in the third round of the PGA Championship last May, and fell six shots behind.
Kitayama was at 9-under 135, and the immediate challenge is Spieth, who tied for fourth in his lone appearance at Bay Hill.
Cameron Young looked to be right there until the final four holes. He was one shot behind until a pair of bogeys and then a shot from the thick rough into the water on the 18th for a double bogey and a 73. He was five behind.
Schauffele dropped only one shot — his approach to the 11th came up short and into the water, and he made an 18-foot putt to escape the bogey — and played the final 16 holes without a bogey. He shot 70 and was three behind along with Corey Conners, who had the low round of the day at 66.
Justin Thomas managed eight birdies, only for a bogey-bogey finish for a 67. He was in the group at 5-under 139 that included Patrick Cantlay (71) and U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who birdied his last three holes for a 69.
Young stretches lead in Puerto Rico
Carson Young had to lean more on his short game Friday and posted a 5-under 67 and built a four-shot lead going into the weekend at the Puerto Rico Open.
Young, a 28-year-old rookie on the PGA Tour, didn’t have quite the theatrics as his opening round of three eagles that carried him to a 63. He still put himself in great position as he goes after his first tour win.
What stood out was holing a bunker shot for birdie on the par-3 sixth hole — his 15th of the day at Grand Reserve Golf Club — and another birdie on the par-3 eighth hole that gave him a cushion. He finished with a bogey on No. 9.
Young was at 14-under 130.
Another tour rookie, Nico Echavarria of Colombia, had a 67 and was four shots back along with Paul Haley II (66).
Ryan Gerard had a 67 and was six shots behind in a tie for sixth. Gerard earned the last spot in the field at the Honda Classic last week in a Monday qualifier, and then finished fourth to earn a spot in Puerto Rico.
The Puerto Rico Open is held opposite the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which has attracted every PGA Tour member from the top 50 in the world. The winner won’t get an invitation to the Masters, but it gets him in the PGA Championship and a two-year tour exemption.
Kang surges in rain at Women’s World Championship
Danielle Kang avoided distractions during a rainsoaked day and shot a 9-under 63 Friday for a one-shot lead after the second round of the Women’s World Championship in Singapore.
Kang opened with a 71 for a 10-under 134 total after two rounds.
Allisen Corpuz (65), Hyo Joo Kim (67) and firstround leader Elizabeth Szokol (71) were a shot back at the Sentosa Golf Club. Szokol opened on Thursday with a 64.
Three others, including American player Nelly Korda, were another shot back at 8-under 136.
The round was suspended by heavy rainfall, but it didn’t faze Kang.
“I actually don’t mind weather delays that much because I feel I just have time to chill. I feel less rushed,” Kang said.
“But my caddie was really helpful in the rain,” she added. “I told him he had magic towels. I don’t know what was happening, but the grip was fully soaked when it went in the bag, and every time he handed me the club, it was completely dry. So it was pretty incredible.”