Jon Rahm followed up his opening 64 with a 67 to retain a share of the lead at the Quicken Loans National. (Getty Images)
Leaderboard
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It may not be the most star-studded field at Congressional Country
Club’s Blue Course, but that doesn’t there are plenty of storylines at
the top of the leaderboard at the Quicken Loans National.
Former Arizona State golfer Jon Rahm, playing in his first event as a pro, proved his first-round 64
wasn’t a fluke by posting a Friday 67 to move into a share of the lead
heading to the weekend. Billy Hurley III co-leads as well at 11 under
after a second-round 65. Vijay Singh, at the ripe age of 53, is three shots off the lead at 8
under after a Friday 66. Singh is looking to become the oldest player to
win a PGA Tour event. Sam Snead is the current oldest winner in Tour
history at 52 years, 10 months and eight days.
“It would be good to win,” the three-time major champion said. “But
it’s only halfway, so I’ll be focused on my game tomorrow and see what
happens.”
Singh started his round with two bogeys in his first three holes, but
rebounded to make eight birdies in his next 14. He ended his round in
somewhat disappointing fashion with a bogey at 18.
Singh hit into the rough under a tree off the tee. Then he landed his
approach shot just inches from the water. Singh waded into the water
and hit his shot safely onto the green, where he two-putted for bogey.
“I was unfortunate that it went that far in and fortunate
that it stayed out,” Singh said. “I kept sinking when I got in the
water. I started out with just my foot in the water and then it started
getting up to my ankles. The more I moved the deeper I went, so I kind
of had to play a very safe shot. I got away with a bogey.”
Rahm’s closing hole was a little less wet, but it still ended in
less-than-stellar fashion. The 21-year-old Spaniard went about
following up on that 18-hole lead quickly. By the time Rahm teed off,
he’d fallen one behind Singh, but four birdies on his front nine moved
him to 11 under and back in front. He would bogey 10, but then get all
the way to 12 under with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17. At the final hole, a par 4, Rahm found the front fringe and gave
himself a chance at the solo 36-hole lead. But his lag from 90+ feet to 5
feet did not end in a closing par, as he missed the shortie to lose a
stroke. Still, it’s been a pretty nice opening pro start for the former
World No. 1 amateur and Golfweek‘s college Player of the Year in 2015-16.
Billy Hurley III, meanwhile, is in a share of the near his hometown
of Leesburg, Va. Hurley successfully made his third cut in his last four
events, and was the only player among the top three to par the
difficult closing hole.. He had seven birdies and one bogey on the day
in all.
It was at this event a year ago that Hurley announced his father was
missing. Hurley’s father was found safe nearly two weeks later. However,
less than a month later, August 13, 2015, Hurley’s father died of a
self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The top-ranked player in the field, world No. 6 Rickie Fowler, is
also back to playing some good golf after missing his last three cuts.
Fowler is at 6 under after his second consecutive 3-under 68.
Ernie Els hasn’t been bit by his putting woes yet this week and is currently in joint fourth at 7 under.
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