Three share lead at midpoint of
Sony Open in Hawaii
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[January 13, 2024]
Jon Rahm's departure for LIV Golf continues to pay quick
dividends for Carl Yuan.
The 26-year-old from China shot a 5-under-par 65 at Waialae Country
Club on Friday to reach 9-under 131 at the midway point of the Sony
Open in Hawaii. Yuan is tied for the lead entering the weekend with
Austin Eckroat and South Korea's Byeong Hun An.
Yuan finished 126th in last year's FedEx Cup standings -- one spot
shy of earning full status on the PGA Tour for the 2024 season. But
shortly after Rahm signed with LIV last month, Yuan was bumped up
that key spot.
Yuan is in the first full-field event of his second season on the
PGA Tour, and has yet to post a top-three finish through 34 starts.
He's in good position to change that with the lowest 36-hole score
of his career.
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"Hopefully ... my score and performance will kind of cover that
part," Yuan said when asked if he expected to be known all year as
the player who retained his status thanks to Rahm. "I mean, just
looking forward to another year on tour. With all the learning
experience from my rookie year definitely feel like I'm more
prepared for being out here."
Each of the three leaders birdied his final hole on Friday. The trio
have a one-shot edge on Ben Griffin, Stewart Cink, Keith Mitchell,
Taylor Montgomery, Kurt Kitayama, Chris Kirk, Grayson Murray,
Germany's Stephan Jaeger, France's Matthieu Pavon and first-round
leader Cam Davis of Australia.
Kirk, who won The Sentry last week, is attempting to become the
first player to win the "Hawaii Double" since Justin Thomas in 2017
and the first player to win the first two events of a year since
Ernie Els in 2003.
An, 32, is winless in 181 career prior starts, while Eckroat, 24, is
seeking his first career PGA Tour win in his 45th start.
"I think this golf course suits a drawer, and I draw the golf ball,"
said Eckroat, who tied for 12th in Honolulu last year and now also
sits on the lowest 36-hole score of his career. "I played here well
last year and was looking forward to coming back, which is huge.
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"I think the golf course just suits my eye and the
tee balls and everything, so it's a really comforting golf course
for me for sure."
Gary Woodland, playing his first event after undergoing brain
surgery in September, and Will Zalatoris, returning from back
surgery that kept him out for nine months, both missed the cut.
Woodland shot 1-over 71 on both Thursday and Friday. Zalatoris
produced a second-round 69, but it wasn't enough to overcome a
first-round 76.
"Obviously you never want to miss the cut, never want to be out of
contention, but it was bigger for me this week than golf," Woodland
said. "Golf game was rusty. Saw a lot of good things, but I was
rusty scoring-wise.
"The goal coming into this week was to see where I was mentally. It
was beautiful. Really was. It was the best week that I've had on a
golf course in a long, long time. Focus was there all week. Attitude
was great. Energy was great. A lot to build on.
"Came to see where I was, and I'm in a good spot. I think good
things are happening."
Also missing the cut was England's Matt Fitzpatrick, the
highest-ranked player in the field at No. 8, who wound up at even
par.
Defending champion Si Woo Kim from South Korea is among a dozen
players at 5 under through 36 holes.
--Field Level Media
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