Martin Laird of Scotland carded a second straight 5-under-par 66 to take a two-stroke lead over rookie Daniel Berger after two rounds of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
Laird, who lives a few minutes from the course, had a three-stroke lead after making four birdies in a span of five holes through No. 17, but missed a six-foot par putt on the final hole to card his only bogey in the first 36 holes. “Somebody who was over-served (drunk) shouted during my backswing,” Laird said of his drive on the 18th hole that led to his only bogey on a dreary, rainy day in the desert.
” … (But) 5-under today is a hell of a lot better than 5-under yesterday.”
Berger, who played on the Web.com Tour last season, birdied the last two holes for a 69 and was one stroke ahead of another rookie, Justin Thomas, who made four birdies on the front nine in a 68.
Bubba Watson, the reigning Masters champion, posted a 71 and was four shots behind in a tie for fourth with first-round leader Ryan Palmer, who had a 72, Ryan Moore, who put up a 67, Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who shot 69, and Zach Johnson and Robert Streb, who both came in at 70.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the two biggest names in the field, missed the cut.
Woods, playing his second official PGA Tour event since August, shot a career-worst 82 and missed the cut by 12 strokes, while Mickelson followed a 69 with a 76 that included only one birdie, and missed the weekend by two shots.
