Patrick Cantlay started with an eagle and by no means let anybody near him the remainder of the spherical Friday. He shot a 6-under 65 to construct a five-shot lead on the Genesis Invitational going right into a weekend that will not embrace Tiger Woods.
Woods made one other early exit, this one due to flu signs as an alternative of his injured physique. He withdrew after six holes and spent the subsequent two hours getting intravenous fluids earlier than leaving Riviera in Los Angeles, together with a giant chunk of the gallery.
“Not bodily in any respect. His again’s wonderful,” stated Rob McNamara, a longtime affiliation and vp of TGR Ventures. “It was all medical sickness, dehydration, which now the signs are reversing themselves now that he is had an IV.”
Woods was pushed away in a purple SUV in regards to the time Cantlay was working away from the sector.
A take a look at the leaderboard heading into the weekend <a href=”https://twitter.com/thegenesisinv?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@TheGenesisInv</a> 🏌️♂️<br><br>(Offered by <a href=”https://twitter.com/ROLEX?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@ROLEX</a>) <a href=”https://t.co/j23eoHI2oB”>pic.twitter.com/j23eoHI2oB</a>
—@PGATOUR
Cantlay has been making nearly every little thing and giving himself a great deal of possibilities. He is aware of Riviera in addition to any PGA Tour course, having gone to UCLA. He most likely has performed this course some 70 occasions in faculty and as a professional.
“Placing nice and leaving the golf ball in the best spot, which is basically key round right here,” Cantlay stated, who leads the sector in the important thing placing statistic. “It is a golf course I am actually comfy on and it is in one of the best form I’ve ever seen it.
“It is one of the best placing surfaces I’ve ever seen round this place,” he stated. “I like when the greens are actually quick, they’re as quick as I’ve ever seen them and I’ve made a bunch.”
Even when he gave the impression to be in bother, he managed simply wonderful. Cantlay missed the green on the 2 hardest holes at Riviera, Nos. 12 and 15. He hit 4-iron to 10 toes on No. 12 — he missed the birdie putt — and 4-iron to 3 toes on the No. 15, making considered one of solely three birdies on that gap within the second spherical.
Hughes, Conners each shoot 65
He was at 13-under 129, giving him a five-shot lead over Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. — who additionally shot a 65 — Jason Day (69) and Luke Checklist (69).
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., moved to 7-under after a 65 spherical of his personal and was in fifth place.
Surrey, B.C.’s Adam Svensson (72) and Nick Taylor (69) and Adam Hadwin (70) of Abbotsford, B.C., are all tied for twentieth at 3 underneath after two rounds.
WATCH l Hughes, Conners in rivalry coming into weekend in Los Angeles:
Dundas, Ont., native Mackenzie Hughes is tied for second place after two rounds of the Genesis Invitational, whereas Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., sits in fifth place. American Patrick Canley is in first place and has a five-shot lead.
Spieth disqualified
Woods wasn’t the one shocking departure. Jordan Spieth, who performed with Cantlay, had a tough end that left him 10 pictures behind, solely to signal an incorrect scorecard and get disqualified.
That left Riviera with a 51-man area for the weekend. This signature occasion has a 36-hole minimize to the highest 50 and ties and anybody inside 10 pictures — the latter wasn’t a problem due to Cantlay. The minimize got here at 1-over 143, eliminating Pebble Seaside winner Wyndham Clark and Justin Thomas.
Right now, I signed for an incorrect scorecard and stepped out of the scoring space, after considering I went by all procedures to ensure it was appropriate. Guidelines are guidelines, and I take full duty. I like this event and golf course as a lot as any on <a href=”https://twitter.com/PGATOUR?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>@PGATOUR</a> so it hurts…
—@JordanSpieth
Now it is a matter of attempting to catch Cantlay, who cannot discover a lot he does not like this week.
Day and Checklist performed within the morning and set the goal at 8 underneath, and it did not take lengthy for Cantlay to catch them. He hit his method on the par-5 opening gap to fifteen toes behind the flag and holed it for eagle.
The massive pleasure belonged to Will Zalatoris, who had a 70 that solely regarded abnormal on the scorecard. Zalatoris had 5 bogeys and 4 birdies, together with a hole-in-one on the 14th gap. This ace got here with a automobile, not just for Zalatoris however for caddie Joel Inventory.
Zalatoris was joined by Xander Schauffele (66) and Tom Hoge (70). Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 participant, had one other elegant efficiency from tee-to-green and extra struggles on the greens for a 70.
Rory McIlroy can substitute Scheffler at No. 1 on the earth solely with a win, and his first step was to make it to the weekend. McIlroy had a 66 to deal with the primary half, although that also leaves him eight pictures behind Cantlay, who is not doing a lot mistaken.
“Generally you simply undergo spells the place you make extra a sure week than others. I’ve had weeks the place I’ve gotten actually sizzling with the putter, so hopefully that is a kind of weeks,” Cantlay stated.
He was requested if having an excellent angle on poa annua greens can assist.
“You are most likely asking the mistaken man,” he stated. “While you’ve made as many putts as I’ve the final couple days, it is easy to have an excellent angle on the greens. “
