By Rahul Banerji
Anirban Lahiri fired a six under par 66 but his effort paled in the face of Talor Gooch’s continued onslaught at LIV Golf Adelaide on Friday.
The India star followed up his 69 of day one with a bogey-free second round but a second successive 10-under 62 from Gooch overshadowed every effort around him at the Grange Golf Club.
At nine-under 135, Lahiri shared eighth place with home favourite Cameron Smith, three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson and two others.
Unlike on Friday when he dropped a shot late, Lahiri had three birdies on either nine and it helped take his team, the Crushers into a tie for fifth place.
With team captain Bryson DeChambeau finally coming good, the Crushers on 23-under par were 10 shots behind the RangeGoats (Gooch, Watson, Harold Varner III) and seven shy of the Stingers.
On 20-under 124, Gooch stood 10 shots clear of a group of six in second place, including Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwarzel, Brooks Koepka, Pat Perez, Cameron Tringale, and Abraham Ancer.
Title in sight
It has already all but assured the 31-year-old Oklahoman, playing for Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats, the individual title – and the $4 million paycheque – that will be decided on Sunday
“I don’t think anybody is catching him,” Koepka said after his second-round 7-under 65.
“I don’t know if it’s ever happened, especially after two rounds,” added Ancer, who also shot 65. “That’s insane.”
“To shoot 10-unders in a row around the track is sort of unheard of,” said Oosthuizen after his 66.
Gooch has 18 birdies and one eagle and is yet to drop a shot. In all he has missed just three fairways and one green in regulation.
“It’s going to drive me even more to be aggressive and to go and put a good round up – not just coast to a win,” Gooch told the event website later.
“We can’t just coast to a win as a team tomorrow, so we’ve got to go play some really good golf.
“We want to be on that podium really bad. I can’t wait to spray Bubba straight in the face with champagne, so I’m hoping we can get it done.
“Everything is just going my way. I’m hitting the ball where I want it to go …
“A lot of people have asked the last 24 hours, how did you do it, give me the secret basically. It’s like, if I had the secret, we would write that book and everyone would know it.”
Past no precedent
Gooch’s 20-under 36-hole total in LIV Golf history, and his 10-shot lead was twice the previous best 36-hole lead, though he has held a share of the day two lead at least thrice in the past.
“I know I don’t have to have my best stuff to win,” Gooch said. “Fortunately these first couple days I think I’ve had some of my best stuff.
“But winning in professional golf, any level on any tour is really, really hard. I think the thing I can take away from those other opportunities is tomorrow is not given.
“I’ve still got to go play good golf, and not only for myself but especially for the team.”
The RangeGoats have never been on the podium but are now likely to pick up both the individual and team trophies.
“We’re trying to get that podium for the first time,” Watson said, “but let’s get that podium with a win.”
Team scores, Day 2
1 RangeGoats GC (-36, round 2 -23): Talor Gooch 62, Harold Varner III 64, Bubba Watson 67
2. Stinger GC (-33, round 2 -20): Branden Grace 65, Louis Oosthuizen 66, Charl Schwartzel 66
3. 4Aces GC (-29, round 2 -19): Dustin Johnson 65, Patrick Reed 65, Pat Perez 67
4. HyFlyers GC (-26, round 2 -15): Phil Mickelson 65, Cameron Tringale 65, Brendan Steele 71
T5. Fireballs GC (-23, round 2 -17): Abraham Ancer 65, Carlos Ortiz 66, Sergio Garcia 68
T5. Crushers GC (-23, round 2 -16): Bryson DeChambeau 65, Anirban Lahiri 66, Charles Howell III 69
T7. Torque GC (-22, round 2 -18): Sebastián Muñoz 65, Mito Pereira 66, David Puig 67
T7. Cleeks GC (-22, round 2 -6): Graeme McDowell 69, Bernd Wiesberger 70, Richard Bland 71
9. Smash GC (-19, round 2 -10): Brooks Koepka 65, Chase Koepka 70, Jason Kokrak 71
10. Iron Heads GC (-18, round 2 -5): Kevin Na 69, Sihwan Kim 71, Danny Lee 71
11. Majesticks GC (-15, round 2 -10): Henrik Stenson 68, Ian Poulter 69, Lee Westwood 69
12. Rippers GC (-14, round 2 -10): Cameron Smith 66, Marc Leishman 69, Jediah Morgan 71
Also read: Talor Gooch sets scoring record at LIV Golf Adelaide Day One
Discover more from Tee Time Tales
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.