J.B. Holmes has won the Waste Management Phoenix Open twice before and is halfway to possibly doing it again.
The 37-year-old Holmes, who considered withdrawing in round one because of a chronic right elbow injury, shot 7-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Wyndham Clark heading to the weekend on the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale https://tpc.com/scottsdale.
“I felt I hit the ball better today because my elbow didn’t bother me as much,” said Holmes, who won this event in 2006 and 2008. “But I didn’t make as many long putts as I did yesterday, even though I did putt well again.
“I had my arm worked on longer than usual and it felt a lot better. It actually felt pretty good and I just have to be careful that I don’t sleep wrong on it tonight so that it feels good on the weekend.”
Holmes, who claimed his fifth PGA Tour victory last year in the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, followed his opening 64 with another strong round that included a six-foot eagle putt on No. 17, six birdies and bogeys on the last hole of each nine while posting a 36-hole score of 13-under 129.
Clark, the first-round leader at 61, made birdies on the last two holes to stay close with a 69.
“Going into the round I wanted to extend the lead, but I didn’t have my best stuff today,” said Clark, who is winless as a pro and has missed the cut in six of his eight starts this season. “I’ve been in this position before and it’s never easy.
“I live here, have a lot of friends out there and it’s fun to play a home game. I’m looking forward to the weekend and just hope I can play better.”
Byeong Hun An of South Korea and the University of California collected five birdies on the back nine in a 66 and is two shots back in a tie for third with Billy Horschel, who birdied two of the last four holes for a 68 after he opened with 63, and Scott Piercy is one more down in solo fifth after making a hole in one on the 175-yard seventh hole to highlight a 65.
Hudson Swafford and Nate Lashley both totaled 67 and are four back in a tie for sixth, while ninth-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State carded a 67 and is five strokes behind in a tie for eighth with Webb Simpson, who finished at 63, Adam Long, who wound up at 68, and 2019 Farmers runner-up Branden Grace of South Africa, who came in at 67.
Local favorite Jon Rahm, who was an All-American at nearby Arizona State, made five straight birdies on the back nine in a 68 and is tied for 12th, while fourth-ranked Justin Thomas shot 68 and is tied for 17th, and defending champion Rickie Fowler of Murrieta rallied from an opening 74 with a 65 that included two eagles and is tied for 40th.
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