Kuchar stays ahead, Woods way behind in 45that Genesis

Los Angeles, Feb 15: The consistent Matt Kuchar did not drive the ball too well but still managed 2-under 69 and built a two-shot lead over World No. 1Rory McIlroy (67) and two others, Harold Varner III (68) and Wyndham Clark (68), as the Genesis Invitational entered the weekend.

While some big names missed the cut at the Riviera, Tiger Woods did survive for the weekend, but was way off in his bid for a first victory at Riviera and a record 83rd title on the PGA TOUR. Woods shot 73 and was nine shots behind Kuchar. Woods was lying T-45th.

Past champions like Adam Scott (64) and Dustin Johnson (66) at six-under and four-under are three and five behind.

Kuchar holds the solo 18- and 36-hole lead in an event for the first time since the 2011 THE NORTHERN TRUST, while Rory McIlroy, in his first start since reclaiming the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking, is two strokes back.

Justin Thomas opened with a 74 after 71 on first day and missed out the weekend for the second time in last three starts. Phil Mickelson, third in last two starts in Saudi Arabia and Pebble Beach, shot 74 and missed the cut. Also missing the weekend are Danny Willett, Jason Day, Bubba Watson and Francesco Molinari. The cut fell at one-over 143.

McIlroy played the par 5s well and kept errors to a minimum and he gets to play in final group on Saturday with Kuchar Harold Varner III.

Kuchar was 9-under 135 despite beginning a bogey on the par-5 first. He was just one of only two players in the 121-man field to not make par or better on it.

Clark had a 68 and joined McIlroy and Varner in the group two shots behind.

Woods started well with a birdie on the reachable par-4 10th. On the Par-4 15th hole he smashed a 335-yard drive to the middle of the fairway. But his next shot with a pitching wedge plugged into the bunker just short of the green. He hit it through the green and chipped back to seven feet but missed putt for double bogey.

He did have two birdies on the par 5s around the turn on 17 and 1 but gave away another shot with sand wedge on the third. He bogeyed fourth and three-putted from about 50 feet up the slope on the par-3 sixth.

Scott has a trophy from Riviera from 2005 when excess rain reduced the tournament to 36 holes and he won in a playoff on Monday.

Scott back from a two-month break with a 7-under 64 is three shots behind Kuchar. Scott won the Australian PGA Championship three days before Christmas.

Johnson champion at Riviera three years ago bounced back from his opening 72 with a 66 and was among those five shots behind. Brooks Koepka had a 73 and was nine shots behind.

Read also

Tiger pays tribute to Kobe Bryant on way to 69 as Kuchar leads with 64  

 

Vinkmag ad

Read Previous

Aditi misses cut; Inbee, Jodi Ewart share lead in Australian Women’s Open

Read Next

Maybank Championships and Volvo China postponed

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *