Patrick Cantlay fought by way of gusting wind on his again 9 Friday to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend at the American Specific in a bid to win for the third time in 4 begins.
Tied for the first-round lead with Lee Hodges after a 10-under 62 at La Quinta Nation Membership, Cantlay shot a 68 on PGA West’s Nicklaus Event Course to succeed in 14-under 130.
“I truly putted very well at the moment and made nothing,” Cantlay mentioned. “The greens have been just a little beat up and it was arduous to make putts. However I rolled it very well and I rolled it how I wished to, I simply didn’t get any to go in.”
Tom Hoge was second after a 66 on PGA West’s Stadium Course.
“I actually felt lucky that we acquired by way of 17 holes with out the wind actually arising,” Hoge mentioned. “Simply our final gap there it acquired gusting.”
Joseph Bramlett, enjoying within the final group off the tenth tee at La Quinta, bogeyed the ultimate two holes in sturdy wind for a 67 to drop right into a five-man tie for third at 12 beneath.
“We guessed on the entire again 9 and a few them I guessed proper and a few them I guessed mistaken,” Bramlett mentioned. “That’s simply type of golf.”
Will Zalatoris birdied his final seven holes on the Nicklaus format for a 61 to additionally be part of Cameron Younger (68), Lanto Griffin (65) and Greyson Sigg (67) at 12 beneath. Younger performed at Nicklaus, and Griffin and Sigg on the Stadium.
The fourth-ranked Cantlay received the BMW Championship and Tour Championship in his last two begins final yr to take the FedEx Cup, then opened this yr with a fourth-place end — at 26 beneath — two weeks in the past in Hawaii within the Sentry Event of Champions.
Final yr within the desert, the 29-year-old former UCLA participant closed with a Stadium-record 61 to complete a shot behind winner Si Woo Kim. Cantlay will play the Stadium the ultimate two days, with extra wind anticipated Saturday.
“It’s a golf course that fits my sport,” Cantlay mentioned. “We’ll see the way it performs tomorrow with the elevated wind. Controlling your golf ball can be a premium tomorrow and leaving your golf ball within the appropriate spot can be actually key to scoring nicely.”
Hoge will play tree-lined La Quinta on Saturday.
“I really feel higher enjoying La Quinta,” Hoge mentioned. “A bit extra protected over there within the timber, just a little shorter golf course. You'll be able to play just a little extra conservatively off tees and simply get it in play and go from there.”
Zalatoris completed with a birdie from the mistaken fairway on the par-four ninth. The PGA Tour rookie of the yr is making his first begin of the yr.
“I simply gave myself possibilities,” Zalatoris mentioned. “I hit quite a bit shut and made a pair 20-, 30-footers to maintain the spherical going and, clearly, making birdie on 9 from the mistaken fairway is type of the icing on the cake.”
He wasn’t involved in regards to the wind that picked up simply as he completed.
“I reside in Texas, so I’m used to it,” Zalatoris mentioned. “Actually, enjoying golf the previous few days with out loads of wind has been just a little unusual for me, so I’m trying ahead to the problem tomorrow.”
Hodges remained at 10 beneath after a 72 on the Nicklaus Event Course.
Prime-ranked Jon Rahm was eight beneath after a 70 on the Nicklaus format. He received the 2018 event.
Kim was 4 beneath in his title protection after a 68 at Nicklaus.
Event host Phil Mickelson was one hundred and fifty fifth within the 156-man area at seven over. He shot a 73 at Nicklaus after opening with a 78 at La Quinta.
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