Scheffler, Fowler shoot matching
64s for La Quinta lead
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[January 18, 2020]
(Reuters) - Scottie Scheffler
shot an eight-under-par 64, despite chalking up a double bogey at
his ninth hole, to tie Rickie Fowler for the second-round lead of
The American Express in La Quinta, California, on Friday.
Scheffler narrowly missed an eagle at his last hole, the ninth, to
match Fowler's score as they completed the Nicklaus Tournament
Course at 15-under 129.
The round of the day, however, belonged to Tony Finau, who birdied
seven of his final nine holes, and 10 in total, for a sizzling
10-under 62 on the Nicklaus course.
That moved him into fourth place at 13-under 131, a stroke behind
Andrew Landry (64) and two behind Fowler and Scheffler.
Landry's round, which featured nine birdies and a bogey, came on the
tougher La Quinta course.
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Scheffler, who started his round at the 10th, needed a solid second
shot at his last hole to help him catch Fowler and he got it, the
ball almost rolling in for an eagle.
"I got off to a pretty hot start today, then kept playing pretty
solid even after that double at the 18th," the 23-year-old told PGA
Tour Radio.
He got back on track with another birdie at the fourth hole (his
13th) and made up more ground with an eagle at the seventh.
Tournament favorite Fowler also started on the 10th and after
picking up two birdies on his front nine collected four more and an
eagle after the turn to post an early lead.
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![](../images/011820pics/sports75.jpg)
Scottie Scheffler reacts after missing a putt on the 18th green
during the second round of The American Express golf tournament on
the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West. Mandatory Credit:
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
"I just did a really good job of picking my way around to the green
and making some putts on top of that," said the five-time PGA Tour
winner, who is competing at La Quinta for the first time in six
years.
First round co-leaders Zac Blair (70) and Grayson Murray (71) were
unable to match their opening 64s.
Tournament host and two-time winner Phil Mickelson, who shot 70 on
Thursday, recorded two bogeys and a pair of birdies for a 72 that
left him at two-under 142, 13 strokes off the lead.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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