LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Rickie Fowler survived late miscues to share the lead at the US PGA Tour Phoenix Open alongside Bryson DeChambeau on Friday, as two-time defending champion Hideki Matsuyama withdrew injured.
Fowler, ranked seventh in the world, got off to a blazing start at TPC Scottsdale with four birdies in his first six holes. He finished with seven birdies in his five-under 66 for 10-under 132.
He pushed his lead to as many as two strokes before a bogey at 17, and DeChambeau capped his 66 with back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18 to join Fowler in the clubhouse on 10-under as the second round was winding down.
Daniel Berger was in the clubhouse on nine-under and Chez Reavie was nine-under with three to play.
By then, Matsuyama’s bid for a rare three-peat was over as Japan’s world number five withdrew prior to hitting a shot in the second round with a left writ injury.
“The pain in my left thumb area started on 13th hole yesterday,” Matsuyama said. “I did some treatment last night, but the pain was still there this morning when I practiced. I decided that it was not worth forcing myself to continue to play and worsen the injury, so I was disappointed that I had to withdraw. As much as I wanted to continue to play and with the three-peat in mind, the pain was just too much.”
Former world number one Jordan Spieth also appeared destined to miss the weekend after a frustrating two days amid the raucous crowds of the Phoenix Open, where the atmosphere resembles that of a football match more than a staid golf event.
Spieth struggled to get any putts to drop as he posted rounds of one-over 72 and one-under 70 to lie one shot outside the projected cut line.
Spieth hadn’t missed a cut since the Byron Nelson in May, a run of 15 straight cuts made worldwide. (Agence France-Presse)