“Overall, it was a lot of good stuff, so I’m glad there was enough to keep me up on top and kind of setting the pace after halfway.”
That good stuff as Adam Scott calls it included eight birdies, three of them in a row from 15-17 on his way to a terrific -6 66 for a 2 shot lead, -10 at this WGC Cadillac Championship over Rory McIlroy and defending champion Dustin Johnson.
When I am asked to pick winners, in form players are always one of the criteria, obviously this modest, ridiculously handsome Aussie is atop that list after his win over Sergio Garcia and a world class field last weekend at the Honda Classic.
In his post round interview a very calm Scott addressed that issue. “I’m probably a little more relaxed this week leading going into the weekend than if I hadn’t won last week. A 36-hole lead doesn’t mean that much, unless it’s by about 10. I could tee off on Saturday and not be leading. I’m going to have to play a good couple of days and try to keep moving in the right direction while the conditions are allowing us to.”
The normal breezy conditions that usually help make the Blue Monster a monster haven't shown up yet so scoring is lower than usual so far, for example there have been 21 rounds in the 60's so far this year while there were only 25 in total when Dustin Johnson won in 2015.
However, the all important weather forecast for today calls for a cloudy day with showers and the breeze getting up a bit,15 km/hr from the east http://www.theweathernetwork.com/us/weather/florida/Miami
Speaking of the defending champion, man they call DJ was at his languid best on Friday, making it look so easy with a superb -8 64 T2 for the best round of the day
As for the Big 3, Rory McIlroy is the only one living up to all the media hype after he used just 23 putts to get right back into contention with a -7 65, T2 with DJ.
The Englishman I've been telling you about, Danny Willett (66) is quietly in fourth at -7
The Englishman I've been telling you about, Danny Willett (66) is quietly in fourth at -7
Jason Day has yet to capture his form from last summer and fall, in fact he struggled to a +2 74, while Jordan Spieth is also no where near his best... yet, T12 69,72 -3.
His driving accuracy at 50% is nearly 6 points below the field's average for the week, but with his short game intact he is only 7 shots back of the lead, and I won't be surprised to see him make a big move today.
His driving accuracy at 50% is nearly 6 points below the field's average for the week, but with his short game intact he is only 7 shots back of the lead, and I won't be surprised to see him make a big move today.
Phil Mickelson was the story early again yesterday, leading the field by 3 shots at -9, driving the ball superbly, but in typical Mickelson fashion the wheels came off suddenly and spectacularly.
At the 13th, a 190 yard par 3, he hit the green with his tee shot but he three putted from 50 feet for a bogey then two holes later on the 15th which is just a little par 3,140 yarder he hit his wedge into the water and emerged on the 16th tee after the resulting double bogey 5 put him right back in the pack. He shot 72 and is at -5 as is Paul Casey after a -4 68.
Charlie Hoffman (68 70) is at -6 along with Bubba who without really trying has shot 69 69 and you just never know with this guy, he could well be in the lead when they start pouring the martini's this evening.
So the messy weather day in store should just add to the drama of what promises to be a very exciting moving day in Miami.
Bryan Angus
Bryan Angus
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