Albany is biting back as the highest 36-hole lead in tournament history was turned in at the halfway point of the 2022 Hero World Challenge. While the seven previous editions of this tournament held in The Bahamas featured birdies in bunches and halfway leads in the double-digits under par range, this year is a stark contrast. Yet despite this change in the scoring environment, it is Viktor Hovland, the man who finished atop the leaderboard a year ago, who is in the same position after 36 holes.

Signing for a 2-under 70 on Friday, the Norwegian stands at 5 under as he was able to separate himself ever so slightly from a stacked leaderboard. With Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Cameron Young trailing Hovland by a single stroke, the 25-year-old admitted he expected scores to be better in spite of the conditions. 

“It was tough,” said Hovland. “We are kind of grinding over every 3 or-4-four footer out there, and they certainly don’t feel like gimmes. This wind just makes everything just a little bit harder, even those basic chip shots, they’re not so basic anymore. I still would have expected the scores to be a little bit lower.”

With the wind expecting to persist, world-class ball strikers should only continue to gravitate to the top of the leaderboard. PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, former world No. 1 Jon Rahm and the red-hot Tony Finau are right behind the initial chasing pack in what is setting up to be a memorable Hero World Challenge to wrap up 2022.

The leader

1. Viktor Hovland (-5)

There have been only three eagles through the first two rounds, and two of them belong to Hovland. Nearly acing the par-4 14th on Thursday, Hovland holed out on the par-5 6th on Friday for his second of the week. With a clear comfort level in the wind and on coastal golf courses, it is no surprise see his name occupying the top spot on the leaderboard, even if he was his biggest critic after his second round.

“I put myself in the fairway a lot, but it’s kind of strange, like I knew it was windy and I feel like I missed so many putts. And I still don’t feel like I’m hitting it very good, like I’m not comfortable over the ball, but the ball’s going straight and I’m giving myself looks,” said Hovland. “It just doesn’t feel that great, and I’m missing a lot of putts, and somehow we ended up at 2 under today, so yeah, happy with that.”

Other contenders

T3. Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa (-4)

6. Tom Kim (-3)

7. Justin Thomas (-2)

T8. Billy Horschel, Sepp Straka (-1)

T10. Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm, Tony Finau (E) 

Not all motivations are the same this week as some spend quality vacation time with their families while others put on a serious face. Put world No. 2 Scheffler in the latter category as the Texan has his eyes on the prize amid his second appearance in the Hero World Challenge. Standing only one stroke back, a win would put Scheffler back atop the world of golf — albeit only temporarily as Rory McIlroy will finish 2022 as world No. 1 no matter what.

“I’m definitely not showing up to finish 20th or whatever it is. I’ve been practicing. I like to practice,” said Scheffler. “I took a nice break before we went to South Carolina. I was pretty worn out after the FedExCup, and then the Presidents Cup, so there was a period there for a good five, six weeks where I wasn’t practicing too much. I still go out and play for fun and stuff, but not too much heavy practice. Last probably month or two I’ve been getting after it fairly decent.”

A tale of two nines for Tony Finau

At first glance, it was a ho-hum round of even-par 72 for Finau. However, upon closer inspection, the contrast between his front nine and back nine couldn’t be more different. Carding five bogeys on his outward half, the four-time PGA Tour winner turned in 4-over 40. 

Drifting outside the top 15 of this 20-man field, Finau found his stride coming home. With four birdies against zero dropped shots over his final nine holes, Finau clawed his way back to even par for the tournament and in with a slight chance over the weekend.

2022 Hero World Challenge updated odds and picks

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

• Viktor Hovland: 4-1
• Scottie Scheffler: 4-1
• Xander Schauffele: 4-1
• Collin Morikawa: 7-1
• Cameron Young: 7-1
• Tom Kim: 11-1
• Justin Thomas: 14-1
• Jon Rahm: 18-1
• Tony Finau: 28-1

It is not often there are three favorites heading into the weekend of a golf tournament. While Hovland holds the slight edge, he is matched on the odds board by Scheffler and Schauffele. With still so much golf to be played and the conditions expecting to continue, I don’t mind taking a shot at a couple players in the chasing pack. Justin Thomas at 14-1 is interesting given his ability to play in the wind, and the same logic goes for Tony Finau at 28-1.

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Go onto Instagram and you will see a host of accounts poking fun at those who go golfing solo. Not everyone has buddies who love the game and wish to play, while others like myself need to work when playing.

There is nothing wrong with playing a 1-ball, so in this post, I tell you my 8 favorite things about golfing by myself. As a professional introvert, I actually enjoy the alone time and will explain why.

Alternatively if you’re tired of playing solo, you might fish yourself a partner with our 50 golf pick up lines.

Is It Common to Play Golf Alone?

Showing up to the course as a solo player is common. However, before the pandemic in 2020, I would see far more golfers play golf alone as I do now. 

Golf courses are capitalizing on the boom. Every time a 1-ball tees off, there are 3-unoccupied tee-time options for that slot. For example, if every player coughs up $80 for a game of golf, it means the course has missed out on $240 in revenue.

So, these days you are bound to get paired with a stranger or a few unless your local course is quiet. I suggest playing on weekdays (especially in the mornings) if you intend on playing single golf.

However, if weekend mornings and early afternoons are your only available times, prepare to play with new people. It’s like a lottery. Sometimes, you meet interesting people and gain a new playing partner. On other occasions, you are paired with a scratch golfer, which puts a lot of pressure on mid and high-handicap competitors. 

One Saturday when I was 13, I decided to take a chance and drop in at the course without a tee time. Apparently, the club champion had the same idea and we were paired together. 

He was a +4 and had just accepted an offer to play for the Columbus State Cougars. I was an 8 and did not want to embarrass myself in front of the older brother of a now-famous Victoria’s Secret model. Fortunately, I had a solid round, and he was a legend. He taught me a few lessons that boosted my golf game for life. 

8 Reasons Why I Love Playing Golf By Myself (Sometimes)

1. Serenity

Since I am not much of a people person, you can imagine that I thrive off the serenity of solo play. I enjoy the peace and quiet and welcome the opportunity to not hear the latest news or make small talk. 

As a South African kid, I love nothing more than being surrounded by nature. Hearing the birds, the bees, and the ping of sweetly struck golf shots is all I need. The alone time gives me hours to think and recalibrate. 

Ultimately, it is an efficient way to clear our heads of all the noise we fill them with these days.

2. Play at Your Own Pace

Playing golf solo allows you to play at your own pace. That gives you a chance to soak in the surrounding beauty and take extra time with each shot. You are not rushed by playing with partners or even held up, for that matter. The beauty is you are driving the round and it is up to you how long it should take.

The only requirement is that you do not hold up the players behind you. If you are a 1-ball and hold up a 4-ball or a couple of twosomes, you need to get moving. 

My advice to avoid feeling rushed is to hit your home course early morning and be one of the first out. That will give you a head start on the rest of the field, allowing you to take all the time you need. 

3. More Relaxed

Golf is a funny game. One day you play like Scottie Scheffler and lose no golf balls. The next day you are known as shanks for consistency off the hosel. The latter often occurs when you are playing with new partners and are petrified of humiliating yourself.

Playing solo removes the pressure of others watching and judging you based on your skill level with golf clubs and a dimpled ball. Removing anxiety allows you to think clearly and focus on your next shot. 

If you are more relaxed, you do not take your bad shots as seriously and should even make a par or two. Lower handicaps should be thinking about more birdies.

4. More Time to Work on Your Game

Playing golf with partners means that you do not have the time to work on your game. You hit your shot and move on to avoid holding up the rest of the field. When you play alone, you have a few moments for a mulligan or practice shot to understand your mistake on the first shot.

I use this to my advantage around the greens more than anything else. I can replicate a chip or putt and try a different line or shot to see how it turns out. 

Course practice enables you to hone your skills on the links and is totally different from the practice range. There are more obstacles, angles, and slopes to deal with. Plus, you need to factor in the wind, moisture, and temperature. 

In addition, you can also play two golf balls and see which one you card a lower score with. This is one of the fun ways to play golf solo by adding an element of competitiveness.

5. Fast Golf

Even if you play two balls or hit a couple of practice shots on each hole, a solo round of golf speeds up the overall pace of play. 

Obviously, if you are one of the singles on the course, other pairings may allow you to play through. Therefore, you will finish your round in record time. 

That means that you can get a round of golf in and still have ample time in your day to enjoy other activities. You are not burdened with waiting for other players in your group to find their balls, deliberate over club selection, and read lines.

If you are driving a golf cart, you can expect to race away from the field at a record pace.

6. Inspiration

I have always found that the peace and quiet on a golf course provide inspiration. Whether for work or personal reasons, the environment enables you to focus only on your next shot. 

It eradicates noise from your head and allows you to think clearly. That is when the ideas begin to flow.

7. Time to Search for Balls

I have no issue helping a fellow golfer look for a golf ball. However, when it happens on every hole, and the player is hell-bent on finding it, you waste time. Plus, it quickly becomes annoying. 

You do not need to endure this pain when golfing alone. However, it can backfire badly, and you can become a victim of lost golf balls. I’ll explain how at the end of this post.

8. When You Are Tired, You Walk Off

There are those rounds where you are not exactly up for it. Maybe you’re just overly frustrated, or simply exhausted. When playing with others, you do not want to be that guy and walk off mid-round. However, playing alone allows you to do whatever you please.

If you decide that you want to walk off the course on the 12th hole, you can go for it, and there is nobody to answer to. Admittedly, I did this last week on the 13th at my home club. It was 95-degrees out with 80% humidity, and no, I did not feel bad for leaving the course early for a swimming pool.

Disadvantages Of Playing Golf Alone

1. Ball Spotting

I spoke about the pain of looking for others’ golf balls, but it can bite you in the posterior when playing a 1-ball. When you are alone, you do not have the luxury of playing partners spotting your ball. Therefore, if you lose sight of the line, you will walk around aimlessly hunting your golf ball.

This is an easily solvable problem if your local country club or public course has caddies for hire. Taking a caddie along for the round will reduce your stress levels further, but you probably need to make some small talk with them and buy them breakfast or lunch.

2. Swing Errors

I appreciate that my playing partners rush to the rescue when my game is in turmoil. They notify me when they spot an issue with my swing mechanics, and I can immediately correct that. 

My playing partners have played for 30-plus years and know a thing or two about the game. I am reluctant to accept advice from any average joe. The point is that when I play alone, I don’t have that luxury, and it can take longer to detect where I am going wrong in my swing.

3 Scorecards

The final downside to playing golf alone is the funniest. Your buddies will never accept your score. You could be as honest as Abraham Lincoln, but your mates will remain skeptical for eternity. 

Hopefully, you do not shoot your best round because nobody will believe you.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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A seesaw third round at the 2022 CJ Cup in South Carolina saw Rory McIlroy climb atop the leaderboard at Congaree Golf Club. McIlroy would ascend to the top of the Official World Golf Rankings for the ninth time in his career if he can hold on for the win Sunday, but it won’t be easy as the Northern Irishman has plenty of pursuers in his rearview mirror.

Sitting at 13 under, McIlroy shot out of the gates on Saturday with a birdie and an eagle in his first four holes. Quickly making up ground on overnight leaders Jon Rahm and Kurt Kitayama, McIlroy kept his foot on the gas when an unlikely eagle opportunity from off the green on the par-5 12th found the bottom of the cup.

Playing the three par 5s in 5 under during his third round, McIlroy was able to give himself room for mistake as two bogeys in his final six holes saw him retreat to the pack ever so slightly. Waiting for him are both Rahm and Kitayama, as well as K.H. Lee, who tied for the lowest round of the day with a 5-under 66 to sit at 12 under. 

Just past them on the leaderboard are a number of young stars-in-the-making including Cam Davis, Aaron Wise and Tom Kim. Quietly going about his business on Saturday, the 20-year-old remains within touch of his playing companion from the first two days at 9 under and will be looking for his third triumph in his last six tournaments.

The leader

1. Rory McIlroy (-13)

There may not be enough words to accurately describe what McIlroy has been doing in the world of golf this past year. Running low on adjectives, the 33-year-old has continued to impress this week in his PGA Tour season debut and is in line to successfully defend his CJ Cup crown from Las Vegas in 2021.

Ranked 14th in the world at the onset of that week, McIlroy’s ascent to the top of the game has simply been incredible. His 2021-22 season saw him tee it up 22 times worldwide while notching three victories, 19 top-20 finishes and 11 top-five finishes as well as top-10 finishes at all four major championships. He is clearly the best player in the world at the moment, and has an opportunity on Sunday to make it official with his 23rd title on the PGA Tour.

Other contenders

T2. Jon Rahm, K.H. Lee and Kurt Kitayama (-12)

T5. Aaron Wise and Taylor Moore (-10)

T7. Tom Kim and Brendon Todd (-9)

T9. Cam Davis, Tom Hoge, Maverick McNealy and Tommy Fleetwood (-8)

Saturday’s round could have easily gotten away from the 36-hole leader as Rahm experienced an up-and-down day. After playing his first seven holes in 1 under, the 27-year-old lost his touch on the greens and carded three bogeys from Nos. 8-11, two of which were the result of three putts.

Despite the turbulence and visible anger, Rahm kept a cool head and was rewarded for his patience. Playing his last seven holes in 3 under, he remained within touch of McIlroy and will pose as the biggest threat to the Northern Irishman on the final day at Congaree.

What else is on the line on Sunday?

McIlroy controls his own destiny, and with a win would not only secure win No. 23 on the PGA Tour but also regain status as world No. 1. However, if he is to falter, not all will be lost. If able to finish solo second, McIlroy still holds an opportunity to reach world No. 1 if Scottie Scheffler finishes worse than solo 34th. The current world No. 1 sits in a tie for 47th as he continues to struggle with the putter in hand.

Shot of the day

With Congaree playing firm and fast, hitting approach shots close to pins has become all the more difficult. Don’t tell Wyndham Clark that after the 28-year-old hit the shot of the tournament during his third round. Making a hole-in-one on the par-3 10th, Clark wielded a 7-iron to perfection from 181 yards.

2022 CJ Cup updated odds, picks

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

• Rory McIlroy: 5/4
• Jon Rahm: 5/2
• K.H. Lee: 8-1
• Kurt Kitayama: 17/2
• Aaron Wise: 20-1
• Tom Kim: 35-1
• Taylor Moore: 35-1

Only seven players are listed lower than 100-1 heading into the final round as the top of the odds board is filled with two of the game’s elites. The sentiment shared on Friday will be the same shared on Saturday: I will go out on a massive limb and say either Rahm or Rory will prove to be victorious come Sunday evening at Congaree.

The name of the game tomorrow between these two Ryder Cup teammates will be iron play. While McIlroy has improved each day from a strokes gained approach perspective, Rahm has actually struggled. If McIlroy continues this trend, he will be near impossible to beat, but it is almost encouraging for Rahm fans that he is only one stroke back without having his world-class iron play. In the end, I think the Spaniard figures things out with his scoring clubs and robs McIlroy of a successful defense.

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While many were asleep Wednesday evening on the East Coast of the United States, the 2022 Zozo Championship in Chiba, Japan, got underway. Headlined by defending champion Hideki Matsuyama, the most popular golfer in Japan, it was the dreary weather which ultimately took center stage in the first round. Competitors played with ball in hand as they dealt with rainy and wet conditions around Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

The man who adapted to his surroundings better than the rest of the field was Brendan Steele, who opened with a 6-under 64 to command the solo first-round lead. The 39-year-old was exquisite from the jump as he made birdie on the par-4 2nd before adding two more on Nos. 10 and 11. After a head-scratching bogey on the par-5 14th, Steele was left needing to recover, and recover he did with four birdies over the course of his final four holes.

Highlighted by a hole-out birdie from roughly 60 yards on the difficult par-4 17th, Steele was able to position his name atop the first page of the leaderboard that includes the likes of Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele and Mito Pereira. Matsuyama may have began his defense effort in middling fashion with a 1-over 71, but his fellow countryman Kazuki Higa is firmly in the mix after a 3-under 67 and will look to make it back-to-back Zozo Championship winners hailing from Japan. 

The leader

1. Brendan Steele (-6)

It is no secret that Steele has gone through the wringer with the putter recently, but he has clearly developed a nice level of comfort around Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. Finishing runner-up to Matsuyama in last year’s tournament, Steele picked up where he left off in Round 1. Having lost a combined 10 strokes on the greens en route to missing the cut at the Fortinet Championship and the Sanderson Farms Championship, it appears — at least through 18 holes — that Steele has left his putting woes back in the United States.

“I love it here. Loved the course last year, really happy to be back. Nice for us to be able to get out of the hotel a little bit this year, too, and enjoy the culture a little, so I’ve enjoyed it a ton,” said Steele. “You just have to drive it well. I like to draw the ball off the tee at least when I’m swinging well and I think there’s quite a few draws out here, so I feel comfortable with the shots that are maybe a little harder for some guys that have a different ball flight. And then I’ve been really comfortable on the greens. The greens are difficult, they have a lot of slope, a lot of speed, but from the start last year I felt really comfortable here and that’s really a key for me.”

Other contenders

2. Adam Schenk (-5)

T3. Keegan Bradley, Matthew NeSmith, Sam Ryder (-4)

T6. Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Mito Pereira, Maverick McNealy, Kazuki Higa (-3)

Competing on a sponsors exemption, Fowler is taking full advantage of his opportunity at the Zozo Championship. After kicking off his 2022-23 season with a T6 finish at the Fortinet Championship, many believed the five-time PGA Tour winner was well on his way to officially being “back.” A missed cut at the Shriners Children’s Open dampened expectations, but a volatile Fowler may be the new normal as he assimilates to a new caddie and a return to former swing coach Butch Harmon. 

“I’m very happy with where we’re at,” said Fowler. “Obviously didn’t have the week we wanted last week, drove it poorly, but with some of the changes we’ve made and to have the finish that we did at Napa and kind of seeing a lot of good things, I’m definitely happy about it and excited to be here and off to a good start.”

2022 Zozo Championship updated odds and picks

• Xander Schauffele (5-1)
• Keegan Bradley (9-1)
• Brendan Steele (10-1)
• Mito Pereira (12-1)
• Adam Schenk (14-1)
• Matthew NeSmith (18-1)
• Maverick McNealy (18-1)
• Viktor Hovland (20-1)

With 54 holes still to play, none of the players shorter than 20-1 really stand out. The top of this leaderboard is susceptible to turnover; instead, we will look to a couple players who signed for rounds of even par 70. Englishman Tyrrell Hatton was a name fancied at the onset of the tournament, and this sentiment has not changed after 18 holes. Carding a quadruple bogey in the middle of his back nine, Hatton was able to recover with four straight birdies to claw back to even by day’s end and stands six strokes back at 40-1.

A similar story unfolded for Cam Davis as he began his Zozo Championship with two double bogeys and a bogey in his first four holes. The smooth-swinging Australian played his final 14 holes in 4 under to end the day where he began at even par. Davis is listed at 60-1, comes off a strong Presidents Cup debut and is playing with house money — literally — as he is set to see his family in Australia at the completion of play this week.

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There are no Presidents Cup snubs on the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open leaderboard, only those who competed a couple weeks ago at Quail Hollow Club. Mito Pereira leads the charge after a sizzling 8-under 63 on Friday, and is atop the leaderboard alone at 12 under heading into the final 36 holes at TPC Summerlin.

Utilizing a team competition as a launch pad for one’s season is nothing new on the PGA Tour (just look at Scottie Scheffler last year), and for Pereira it appears he is not alone. His fellow teammates from Quail Hollow, Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim, are some of his closest pursuers as they check in two strokes off the lead at 10 under alongside Las Vegas resident Maverick McNealy.

Cam Davis, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Sungjae Im all find themselves inside the top 20 for the time being, but to say the Shriners Children’s Open has strictly been an international party would be a lie. Americans Patrick Cantlay and Max Homa will surely have something to say about the outcome of this tournament with both only four strokes adrift in a tie for ninth.

The two men from the United States have yet to display their A-games around TPC Summerlin, and are more than capable of firing a round in the low 60s on Saturday to take control. While scoring is down a touch compared to recent years, favorable pin positions and ideal weather may lead to a birdie barrage finally coming to fruition over the weekend in Sin City.

The leader

1. Mito Pereira (-12)

After flashing serious form in the middle stages of the 2021-22 season, Pereira went cold. Showcasing his skillset at the 2022 PGA Championship, the Chilean went on to miss four of his final six starts to end his first full campaign on the PGA Tour. While he limped to the finish line, Pereira’s play was still enough to garner him a spot on the Presidents Cup team, where some of this lost confidence may have been rediscovered.

“[Captain Trevor Immelman] Just really tried to put us in a position that we really want to play well and really trusting ourselves,” Pereira said of the international confidence. “Every day he did like a little speech of how good we are and how we can do this. So I think it really touched us.”

Other contenders

2. Robby Shelton (-11)

T3. Tom Kim, Si Woo Kim, Maverick McNealy

T6. Kevin Streelman, Cam Davis, Chad Ramey (-9)

T9. Patrick Rodgers, Patrick Cantlay, Matthew NeSmith, S.H. Kim, Adam Hadwin, Max Homa, Sam Ryder, Keith Mitchell (-8)

It was a run-of-the-mill first 11 holes for Si Woo Kim, who reached 10 under early in his second round. Stalling around the turn, disaster struck for the South Korean when he bladed his chip shot into the water on the par-4 12th leading to a triple bogey. Kim later made amends with a hole-out eagle on the par-4 15th from the greenside bunker and a birdie on the par-5 16th to reach 10 under yet again to keep his name in contention.

“I had a little between numbers and then hit a little pull hook. I think always pull hook is a little bit further, so I miss it. I just missed the one shot and then kind of had a tough lie. Then I had a bad chip and then make triple,” said Kim. “But Manny, my caddie, said keep it positive and we can get back. Yeah, I kept positive and just played my own.”

Momentum from Presidents Cup carrying on

At the start of the week, 10 Presidents Cup participants teed it up at TPC Summerlin with the vast majority coming from the international side. All 10 have made their way into the weekend with eight currently residing inside the top 20 — six of which are international. Led by Pereira and the South Korean duo, a new sense of confidence may been instilled from this team competition just a couple weeks ago.

“Obviously, with the amount of pressure there is in the Presidents Cup, and normally you play for yourself in individual tournaments, but you play for the whole team. For me, it’s actually like — it was so comfortable just knowing if I miss a shot, it’s on me,” said Tom Kim. “I’m not hurting anyone else. Just things like that, where you’re in a mindset where you’re a little more comfortable. For a lot of us players, it was a big learning experience, and I think we’re going to keep growing.”

Cantlay discusses TPC Summerlin’s new greens

Horse for the course, Patrick Cantlay is once again well-positioned to contend for the Shriners Children’s Open title. Coming into this week having notched a victory, two runners-up and a top-10 result in his four prior trips to Las Vegas, this time around has been drastically different. Known to be one of the best putters on the PGA Tour, Cantlay was vocal with his displeasure in regards to putting surfaces in the desert.

“It’s [TPC Summerlin’s] in a lot worse condition, and you can see that with the scores,” said Cantlay. “The greens haven’t quite settled, so you get all sorts of bounces out there. Every green and every little spot is a different firmness. It’s hard to predict and hard to get it close because of that, but it’s the same way for everybody. I’ll just do my best to hit it as close as I can and make as many birdies as I can.”

The world No. 4 continued: “The greens are not settled. It’s very hard to read the greens. Even if you read it correctly, it could bounce offline in a heartbeat. I think it puts even more of a premium on ball-striking around this place. If I could keep driving it the way I am and hit a few more shots closer, I’ll be in a good spot.”

2022 Shriners Children’s Open updated odds and picks

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

• Mito Pereira: 9/2
• Tom Kim: 11/2
• Patrick Cantlay: 15/2
• Si Woo Kim: 10-1
• Robby Shelton: 10-1
• Maverick McNealy: 12-1
• Cam Davis: 16-1
• Max Homa: 18-1
• Sungjae Im: 20-1

All the big hitters came to play this week, but I have a sense of a Saturday run coming from a player not on this list. Sam Ryder has been a name I’ve been following this week as he arrived with both his irons and putter in good form. Through two rounds, he ranks 10th in strokes gained approach, and would be found on the first page of the leaderboard if not for a poor putting display on Friday. Instead, Ryder is 100-1 sitting at 8 under and in a tie for ninth where he takes a backseat to the likes of Cantlay and Homa despite still being in contention.

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