MIAMI (AFP) – Bryson DeChambeau fired an eight-under par 64 to grab a one-stroke lead over a trio of US compatriots after Friday’s (Dec 3) second spherical of the twenty second Hero World Problem.
DeChambeau, final 12 months’s US Open champion, made 10 birdies and a double bogey to face on 11-under 133 after 36 holes within the 20-man invitational hosted by Tiger Woods on the Albany resort within the Bahamas.
Second-ranked Collin Morikawa, Thirteenth-ranked Tony Finau and world quantity 16 Brooks Koepka shared second on 134 with American Daniel Berger one other stroke adrift.
World quantity seven DeChambeau opened with a birdie, added back-to-back birdies on the par-5 sixth and par-4 seventh, then reeled off runs of three birdies in a row beginning on the par-5 ninth and once more on the par-4 Thirteenth.
DeChambeau, nevertheless, discovered waste space bushes left of the green on the par-4 sixteenth and took a double bogey.
“Simply preserve enjoying golf. Nothing extra,” DeChambeau mentioned of his ideas after the setback. “Pissed off clearly however nothing I might do. I pulled the drive. It went right into a bush. Needed to transfer on.” The 28-year-old American, whose solely 2021 title got here at Bay Hill in March, birdied the par-3 seventeenth and closed with a par.
Advised he is likely to be paired with rival Brooks Koepka on Saturday, DeChambeau solely replied, “Candy.”
4-time main winner Koepka beat DeChambeau 4&3 in a 12-hole match-play occasion final week in Las Vegas.
But it surely was to not be as Koepka could not match him for the lead.
Koepka birdied the par-5 third and par-4 fourth and added one other on the seventh earlier than taking a bogey on the par-3 eighth. He started the again 9 with a birdie and added birdies at 14 and the par-5 fifteenth on his solution to a 67.
“More than happy with how I am enjoying,” Koepka mentioned. “I simply must preserve doing that.”
Requested a couple of potential Sunday pairing with DeChambeau, Koepka mentioned, “I’ve already proved every thing final week so I am good.”
Morikawa, who will play alongside DeChambeau in Saturday’s last duo, would overtake Spain’s Jon Rahm for world primary with a victory.
“It is an enormous bonus however I’ve acquired to give attention to the win,” Morikawa mentioned. “I’ve put myself in an excellent place after the primary two days however I’ve acquired to maintain the main focus up and make a pair extra birdies.”
Morikawa, who acquired engaged earlier within the week, opened and closed the entrance 9 with birdies with one other on the fouth in between.
He adopted a birdie on the par-5 eleventh with a bogey at 12 however then birdied 13 and 14 and eagled the par-5 fifteenth to achieve 11-under.
However at 18, Morikawa’s tee shot landed behind a small bush proper of the green and he closed with a bogey to shoot 66 and fall from a share of the lead.
“After I put myself within the fairway, I used to be making the birdies,” Morikawa mentioned. “It was type of an up-and-down day.”
McIlroy falls again
Finau birdied the par-5 third and sixth in addition to seven however started the again 9 with a bogey. He answered with birdies on the par-3 twelfth plus 14 and 15 and closed with the primary birdie of the week on the 18th.
4-time main winner Rory McIlroy, a co-leader after taking pictures 66 on Thursday, fired a 71 on Friday to face 4 off the tempo. He opened and closed the entrance 9 with bogeys, added one other at 18 and made double bogey at 14 after rolling a putt off the inexperienced.
