By Rahul Banerji
With gusty winds making life difficult for the Hero World Challenge field at Albany in the Bahamas, low rounds by Scottie Scheffler (68) and Xander Schauffele (68) had them well placed on Friday,
Scheffler had four birdies in five holes while Tokyo Olympic champion Schauffele had five birdies against one bogey as they closed in on overnight leader and defending champion Viktor Hovland.
Hovland (69-70) kept his nose in front by a shot as Scheffler (72-68) and Schaffele (72-68) moved to four-under Collin Morikawa (71-69) and Cameron Young (71-69), event organisers said.
Hovland, who had three eagles last year, already has had two in two days this year as he attempts to become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007 to win the event back-to-back.
Scheffler is the only other player with an eagle this week.
Despite the wind, the quality of golf in the 20-man field has been superb with 10 players under par for the second round and another getting even par 72.
Nine players are under par for 36 holes and another three are on level par 144s.
Scheffler, who could go back to no. 1 in the world if he wins here was two-under through his first nine and then gave a shot back immediately after the turn.
Productive stretch
Then came a five-hole stretch in which he racked up four birdies only to drop a shot again just before the finish.
“I don’t like being No. 2,” Scheffler said. “I don’t like finishing second.”
He needs to win to take care of both after a year in which he has already won four times. Scheffler was runner-up to Hovland in 2021.
If Hovland’s near ace on the par-4 14th en route to an eagle was the talking point on day 1, his slam-dunk eagle with a pitching wedge from just under 85 yards on the sixth was the shot of the round.
It was his second eagle of the week and Hovland then ran off three birdies in a row but two bogeys each on either side of the course meant only a two-under 70 for the day.
Hovland could well be the man this week if the wind continues thanks to his experience in Europe. The Norwegian, who before the tournament had said he was not happy with his hitting, was quite good even given the conditions.
“It’s kind of strange, like I knew it was windy and I feel like I missed so many putts,” said Hovland.
“And I still don’t feel like I’m hitting it very good. I’m not comfortable over the ball, but the ball’s going straight and I’m giving myself looks.”
Korean youngster, Joohyung Kim (69-72) followed his bogey-free first round with an even par 72 on the second for sole sixth place one shot ahead of Justin Thomas (72-70) in seventh.
Soccer mania
Coming off the course, Kim was scrolling his phone for the World Cup football results as South Korea was playing.
He asked incredulously, “Did they win?” And then laughed and added, “”Goosebumps,” while stretching his arms. Korea are now into the knock-out stage of the World Cup for football.
Kim, bogey free on the first day, dropped two late shots to finish on level par. “It was tough out there today, the wind was really blowing.
“Obviously it wasn’t the finish that I wanted, but even par on the PGA Tour and you don’t drop that many spots, you’re only a few spots back is a good sign.”
Sepp Straka, one of the four leaders on day 1, dropped to tied eighth after shooting 74 that had one birdie against three bogeys.
Also read: Kim in tie for lead on Hero World Challenge opening day
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