Californians Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau share the lead midway through the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
DeChambeau birdied the last two holes to pull into a tie with the seventh-ranked Fowler (pictured), who birdied four of the first six but made a disappointing bogey on the 17th hole, as both shot 6-under-par 66 for the second straight day at TPC Scottsdale — where Rickie has posted 11 straight rounds in the 60s.
“I hit a lot of good shots, but made an unfortunate bogey at No. 17,” said the 29-year-old Fowler, from Murrieta, who has four victories on the PGA Tour. “Other than that, it was a pretty solid day. I’m in good position going to the weekend. I just want to have fun tomorrow and put myself in a good spot for Sunday.
“I’m very comfortable on this golf course and I’ve played a lot of good rounds here and I’m looking forward to the weekend. It helps when you know you have had success on a course. I just want to get off to good starts and go from there. I want to make some more birdies down and keep the gas pedal down.”
DeChambeau also had a couple miscues, missing a four-foot par putt on the 14th hole to make his only bogey in the first 36 holes, and hitting his tee shot into the water on the next tee before scrambling to save a par on the 15th.
“It was a little timing issue on that putt,” said DeChambeau, 24, from Clovis, who claimed his only victory on the circuit last year in the John Deere Classic. “And after saving par on 15, I was able to hit some good shots coming in and make a couple more birdies.
“I made a couple unforced errors but was able to keep it together. I’m looking forward to tomorrow; it’s going to be a good day.”
Chez Reavie, one of several players in the field from nearby Arizona State, sank a nine-foot eagle putt on the 17th hole on his way to a 65 and is one stroke back in a tie for third with Daniel Berger, who matched Reavie’s bogey-free 65 with a 20-foot birdie putt on the last hole.
Scott Stallings sank a seven-foot eagle putt at No. 17 in another 65 and is two strokes behind in a tie for fifth with Chesson Hadley and Chris Kirk, who both finished at 68.
Phil Mickelson, who has won the Phoenix Open three times, also recorded a 65 and is another stroke back in a massive tie for eighth that includes fellow ASU alum Jon Rahm of Spain, who had a 68, Brendan Steele of Idyllwild and UC Riverside, who totaled 67, and Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State, who also came in at 67.
Adam Hadwin of Canada shot 65 and also is in the tie for eighth along with Gary Woodland (68), Steve Stricker (67), Vaughn Taylor (69), Byeong Hun An (67) of South Korea, Brian Gay (68) and Martin Laird (67) of Scotland.
Fourth-ranked Justin Thomas is tied for 19th after a 68, while third-ranked Jordan Spieth shot 70 and missed the cut by one stroke.
Fifth-ranked and two-time defending champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who opened with a 69, withdrew because of a left wrist injury.
For complete results, https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.
