Wet weather was no impediment to Bubba Watson on Friday as he fired a 10-under 62 to take a two-shot lead after the delayed second round of the Bob Hope Classic.
After rain storms washed out play on Thursday, the second round of the 90-hole event teed off in driving rain on Friday.
It was raining again as the round wrapped up, but in between the long-hitting Watson capitalized on the wet fairways as he built a 16-under total of 128.
Alex Prugh was two shots back after a 66 for 130. First-round leader Shane Bertsch carded a 69 for 131, where he was joined by Joe Ogilvie (66), Martin Flores (65) and Chad Collins (64).
Watson played his second round at SilverRock, the toughest of the four courses in use for the tournament.
Watson’s round included an eagle, nine birdies and one bogey, and his 62 improved on the SilverRock course record of 63 set by Jason Dufner last year.
“My length is definitely going to play a part on that golf course, because it’s got wide fairways,” Watson said. “I can rip it if I want to.”
While the wet course made the par-fives less reachable, the conditions still suited Watson, especially with lift, clean and place rules in effect.
“The wet weather just totally plays into his favor, because his ball’s not going to get out of control when it hits the ground,” Bertsch said.
■ABU DHABI
AFP, ABU DHABI
Armed with a red-hot putter, Australian Rick Kulacz moved to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
The 24-year-old from Perth, playing on a sponsor’s invite, made the most of his opportunity as he added a stunning nine-under 63 to his first-round 69 to take a one-shot lead over Spaniard world No. 13 Sergio Garcia, Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Swede Peter Hanson, who were tied in second place at 11-under 133.
Garcia, making a comeback from a wrist injury, shot a five-under 67, the same as Hanson, while Lowry, who won the Irish Open as an amateur last year, shot a round of seven-under 65.
England’s Chris Wood, Welshman Rhys Davies and German Martin Kaymer, the champion in 2008, were tied for the fifth place at 10-under 134.
The reigning European Tour Order of Merit winner, England’s Lee Westwood (three-over 147), was the most notable casualty as the halfway cut was applied at two-under 142.
Kulacz, who fell in love with the game as a three-year-old when he was forced to stay awake at night after an asthma attack and watch Aussie legend Greg Norman play the Open Championship on television, was three-under at the turn with four birdies and a bogey.
Once he drained a 40-footer birdie putt on the 18th, however, there was no stopping him as he made just about every putt and chipped in as well.
On the back nine, he had seven birdies and one bogey before finishing with a par.
Garcia, who could not hit a single shot until last week after hurting his wrist, was on song as he made six birdies in a round of 67. Starting the round with a 50-feet birdie putt, the world No. 13 hit the ball solid throughout the day.
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