Streb joins Walker in lead
Streb joins Walker in lead
July 31, 2016 | 12:03 AM
Robert Streb of the United States plays a shot at the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, Friday. — AFP
July 31, 2016 | 12:03 AM
Last Updated: July 31, 2016 | 12:03 AM
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Robert Streb of the United States plays a shot at the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, Friday. — AFP[/caption]SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey — Unheralded Robert Streb fired a record-equaling 63 to share a two-shot lead with Jimmy Walker after the second round of the PGA Championship Friday, with heavyweights Jason Day and Henrik Stenson lurking nearby.
Streb, who has one PGA Tour victory, rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt on his last hole, the ninth at Baltusrol, for the 30th round of 63 ever shot in a major championship.
He joined fellow American Walker (66) at nine-under 131.
“Most of the year has been a big struggle,” said 29-year old Streb, who won the McGladrey Classic two years ago but has missed nine cuts this year including the Masters, US Open, British Open and The Players.
Walker, winless this season after winning three tournaments in 2014 and two more last year, also emerged from nowhere, after finding his putting stroke, notwithstanding his sole bogey of the day on the par-five 18th.
Walker and Streb will seek to make a year of four first-time major winners, following England’s Danny Willett at the Masters, US Open winner Dustin Johnson and Stenson at the British Open.
Looming large two strokes behind are defending champion Day, and 23-year-old Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, with Stenson three back at rain-softened Baltusrol.
Day came alive after an early double-bogey, roaring back with seven birdies in his next eight holes on his way to a 65, while Grillo birdied four holes on his first nine in shooting 67.
Sweden’s Stenson, who fired a sensational final-round 63 to outduel Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon two weeks ago and set a British Open scoring record of 20-under, posted his second successive 67 for fifth place.
Eighty-six players made the cut, which fell at two-over 142.
Among players squeezing in on the number were former US Open winner Justin Rose of England (70-72), former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (73-69) and his fellow South African, four-times major winner Ernie Els (73-69).
Players just missing the cut included former world number ones Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (74-69) and Luke Donald of England (72-71), while US Open winner Dustin Johnson (77-72) tied for 142nd in a 156-man field that included 20 teaching pros.
Lee holds halfway lead
Lee Mi-rim couldn’t match her great golf of the first round, but a 71 was still good enough to hold the halfway lead on 11-under par 133 at the Women’s British Open at Woburn Friday.
The 25-year-old South Korean leads an Asian 1-2-3 as she holds a one shot lead over China’s Feng Shanshan (68) and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (69).
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, who will be 47 next month and won the title at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2009, shot a best of day 65 and moved into joint fourth place on nine under alongside another South Korean, Jang Ha-Na (67).
World No.1 Lydia Ko made the cut with a shot to spare on level par 144 after a second round 70. In danger of missing the weekend, the 19-year-old New Zealander birdied the 15th and 16th.
“I just tried to be patient,” said the two-time major winner from New Zealand.
“I knew I needed to shoot under par today and the birdies at 15 and 16 gave me a little breathing space.
“Going into today, my goal was to play all four rounds. Now I just have to stay positive. There are still 36 holes to go.”
But notables who did miss out included Americans Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie, who shot 76 and 73 respectively.
Robert Streb of the United States plays a shot at the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, Friday. — AFP[/caption]SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey — Unheralded Robert Streb fired a record-equaling 63 to share a two-shot lead with Jimmy Walker after the second round of the PGA Championship Friday, with heavyweights Jason Day and Henrik Stenson lurking nearby.
Streb, who has one PGA Tour victory, rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt on his last hole, the ninth at Baltusrol, for the 30th round of 63 ever shot in a major championship.
He joined fellow American Walker (66) at nine-under 131.
“Most of the year has been a big struggle,” said 29-year old Streb, who won the McGladrey Classic two years ago but has missed nine cuts this year including the Masters, US Open, British Open and The Players.
Walker, winless this season after winning three tournaments in 2014 and two more last year, also emerged from nowhere, after finding his putting stroke, notwithstanding his sole bogey of the day on the par-five 18th.
Walker and Streb will seek to make a year of four first-time major winners, following England’s Danny Willett at the Masters, US Open winner Dustin Johnson and Stenson at the British Open.
Looming large two strokes behind are defending champion Day, and 23-year-old Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, with Stenson three back at rain-softened Baltusrol.
Day came alive after an early double-bogey, roaring back with seven birdies in his next eight holes on his way to a 65, while Grillo birdied four holes on his first nine in shooting 67.
Sweden’s Stenson, who fired a sensational final-round 63 to outduel Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon two weeks ago and set a British Open scoring record of 20-under, posted his second successive 67 for fifth place.
Eighty-six players made the cut, which fell at two-over 142.
Among players squeezing in on the number were former US Open winner Justin Rose of England (70-72), former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (73-69) and his fellow South African, four-times major winner Ernie Els (73-69).
Players just missing the cut included former world number ones Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (74-69) and Luke Donald of England (72-71), while US Open winner Dustin Johnson (77-72) tied for 142nd in a 156-man field that included 20 teaching pros.
Lee holds halfway lead
Lee Mi-rim couldn’t match her great golf of the first round, but a 71 was still good enough to hold the halfway lead on 11-under par 133 at the Women’s British Open at Woburn Friday.
The 25-year-old South Korean leads an Asian 1-2-3 as she holds a one shot lead over China’s Feng Shanshan (68) and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (69).
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, who will be 47 next month and won the title at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2009, shot a best of day 65 and moved into joint fourth place on nine under alongside another South Korean, Jang Ha-Na (67).
World No.1 Lydia Ko made the cut with a shot to spare on level par 144 after a second round 70. In danger of missing the weekend, the 19-year-old New Zealander birdied the 15th and 16th.
“I just tried to be patient,” said the two-time major winner from New Zealand.
“I knew I needed to shoot under par today and the birdies at 15 and 16 gave me a little breathing space.
“Going into today, my goal was to play all four rounds. Now I just have to stay positive. There are still 36 holes to go.”
But notables who did miss out included Americans Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie, who shot 76 and 73 respectively.
