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At home Simpson halfway co-leader at Greensboro

[August 19, 2017] By Andrew Both

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Webb Simpson recovered from two consecutive bogeys to join fellow American Ryan Armour in the lead on 13-under par after the second round at the Wyndham Championship on Friday.

Simpson, the 2011 champion, carded 64, while Armour went even lower with a nine-birdie, nine-under-par 61 in ideal if sweltering conditions at Sedgefield Country Club.

They led by one stroke from Swede Henrik Stenson, who eschewed a driver for the second straight day while carding 66.

Simpson, who was born a one-hour drive east of the course in Raleigh and now lives 90 minutes west in Charlotte, enjoys playing in his home state.

“Having a lot of people out here rooting for me is a great thing but I've got to remember at the end of the day to take care of my business and make a lot of birdies,” said Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion.

“It’s hard to back up a good day like yesterday (63) with a 64, but I actually think I played a little better today.”

Co-leader Armour, a 41-year-old journeyman, needs to finish no worse than second this week in the final regular-season event of the season to keep his PGA Tour card for next year.

BEST ROUND

The best round of his career, thanks to four consecutive late birdies, was a step in the right direction, his sizzling form the result of an equipment change, he said, with new shafts helping him achieve a higher ball flight.

“The ball is getting up in the air a little better and it allows me to keep the rhythm that I want,” said Armour. “I want to be a shot-maker out there and not always have to hit the full shot.”

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Webb Simpson hits out of the rough on the ninth hole during the second round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament at Sedgefield Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Stenson, beating the worst of the oppressive heat with his morning start, picked up five birdies on the short 7,127-yard, par-70 Donald Ross-designed course.

“I was fighting the swing a little bit out there but I still produced quite a lot of good iron shots and gave myself a good number of chances,” said world number nine Stenson, the highest-ranked player in the field.

“I still managed to produce some good stuff and when I didn’t, which was mainly off the tee, a couple of loose shots, I managed to scramble and keep it tidy anyway,” added the 2016 British Open champion.

“I didn’t make as many putts as yesterday but I still played a decent round.”

First-round leader Matt Every made a miserable start, dropping three shots in his first two holes en route to a 72 that left the American six shots off the pace.

The cut fell at three-under 137.

(Reporting by Andrew Both; editing by Ken Ferris)

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