Fowler flying at Phoenix Open, shares lead with DeChambeau
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[February 03, 2018]
(Reuters) - Rickie Fowler took a
step towards Phoenix Open redemption when he earned a share of the
halfway lead with fellow American Bryson DeChambeau in Arizona on
Friday.
Fowler and DeChambeau both carded five-under 66s at TPC Scottsdale
for 10-under-par 132 totals, one stroke clear of compatriots Daniel
Berger and Chez Reavie.
Eighteen players are bunched within three shots of the leaders,
including Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm, who are both on seven-under.
However, Hideki Matsuyama's hopes of winning the tournament for a
third consecutive year evaporated when the Japanese world number
five pulled out before hitting a shot, citing a left thumb and wrist
injury. He had shot a two-under 69 on Thursday.
Two years ago, Matsuyama beat Fowler in a playoff after the American
plonked his tee shot into a water hazard at the fourth extra hole.
Despite his status as a fan favorite, and a healthy world ranking of
seventh, Fowler knows he has let too many tournaments slip away,
with 12 career runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour to go with his
four official victories.
He looked set to claim the solo lead on Friday until he overcooked
his chip shot at the par-four 17th for a soft bogey.
"Was in good position to make birdie there, a little unfortunate to
make bogey, (but) other than that solid day, kept moving in the
right direction," Fowler told the Golf Channel after his 11th
consecutive round of 70 or better at the venue.
"We're in a good spot going into the weekend. This is a place we
know we can continue to play well. I'm comfortable on this course.
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Rickie Fowler with his tee shot on the third during the first round
of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC
Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
"We'll piece together the nines at some point. Yesterday we started
on the back and got off to a decent start there and then cooled down
a little on the front. Today played the front nine well."
DeChambeau, a physics major who applies his understanding of the
science to his swing, rifled his approach shot to inside a foot to
birdie the last and join Fowler at the top of the leaderboard.
American Robert Garrigus hit the shot of the day at the driveable
par-four 17th, almost making a rare albatross.
His tee shot landed short of the green and the ball bounded forward
and clattered against the pin, but somehow did not drop in, settling
a couple of inches way. He settled for an eagle and finished the day
eight strokes behind.
World number three Jordan Spieth missed the cut by one shot, the
American finishing on even-par 142 to suffer his first weekend off
since last May.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Adelaide, South Australia; Editing by
John O'Brien)
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