Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

GOLF:

How low will they go?

Record-tying cut level could signal lower scores to come in PGA tourney

Johnson Out of Rough

Leila Navidi

Zach Johnson hits safely from the rough during the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin on Friday. Johnson sits a stroke behind co-leaders Matt Kuchar and Marc Turnesa with a 127.

Lowball

Golf fan Bob Savitsky of Phoenix watches golfer Robert Garrigus hit from the fairway during the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin on Friday, October 17, 2008. Launch slideshow »

Now, Timberlake Sounds Off

Justin Timberlake addressed the media before teeing off in the Celebrity Pro-Am portion of his Tournament at TPC Summerlin.

Special section

Today's Tee Times

Zach Johnson stepped off the golf course Friday night and his wife, Kim, was waiting for him with his dancing shoes.

“I got your shirt pressed and your dancing shoes ready to go,” said an excited Kim, who insisted last year’s Masters Champ play in this week’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open because she wanted to see the pop singer perform at a special benefit concert at Planet Hollywood.

“Oh, yeah. I don’t have a choice,” joked Johnson, the co-leader from the first-round of the event at TPC Summerlin, who dropped back to third-place as Matt Kuchar and Marc Turnesa tied for the tourney lead with a two-day total of 126.

“He’s a rock star,” continued Johnson of Timberlake. “A complete rock star, so I think that’s positive for the tour. It helps with raising money for charities and for the fan base and bringing more people out.”

Including the golfers themselves.

“My caddie was talking midway through the round, and he says, ‘Man, you gotta keep making birdies so we can sleep in after the Timberlake concert tonight,’” said Kuchar, who after missing the cut in his last seven starts fired the day’s lowest score of 63 on Friday.

“It’s not often that you can follow up a 63 with another 63. But you can’t let up. You have to make a lot more birdies. Who knows what the magical number will be. There’s certainly going to be some more low numbers shot.”

Indeed, a record number as the cut for the weekend rounds came at 6-under 138, equaling the lowest level in relation to par in PGA Tour history. Eighty-three players advanced to today’s round, which begins at 7 a.m. Gates open at 6:30 a.m.

There have only been five lower opening 36-hole scores in PGA history than the 18-under that Kuchar and Turnesa recorded. One of those was Tiger Woods’ 15-under at Firestone Country Club in 2000.

But Turnesa nearly missed that mark when he double bogeyed No. 17.

“What can I say really?” said Turnesa, a rookie who comes from a legendary golfing family in Elmsford, N.Y. “I hit a bad shot on 17 and made double. Then on 18, I hit a good shot and got a little lucky as well, and it went in the hole.

Did he ever. Turnesa, who complimented his first-round 62, with a 64 on Friday, holed out from 159 yards for eagle on the par-4 18th.

“I was just trying to put a good swing on it on 18 and get it in the fairway and make birdie when I put it in the fairway,” continued Turnesa, who maintained a share of the lead with an improbable birdie-birdie-birdie-double bogey-eagle finish on the final five holes.

“I mean, it looked good. I knew in the air it was going to be close. So when I heard the crowd, it was a good feeling."

UNLV alum Ryan Moore also was in high spirits after shooting an 8-under par 64 to stay just four shots out of the lead.

“I really love this area. I enjoy any chance to get back here. Playing a little good golf on top of that is always a bonus,” said Moore, who sported a white PING headband.

Moore said with the perfect fall conditions and record pace, who knows what could happen over the weekend.

“The course is in great shape right now with no wind period. That’s the one defense on a golf course like this,” he said. “The greens are rolling so good, and scoreable par fives and a drivable par four. I mean, it’s all there right now.”

The unlucky ones couldn’t keep up with the hot putters atop the leader board and didn’t make the low cut. John Daly missed by a single stroke. Two former champs, Paul Azinger and Troy Matteson, also were eliminated.

John Mallinger sits in fourth place at 16 under, while Pat Perez (63) and Ken Duke (66) were at 15 under. Canadian Open winner Chez Reavie, Moore (64) and Chris Stroud (65) followed at 14 under, and Rich Beem (65) and Nick Watney (68) rounded out the Top 10 at 13 under.

“It’s just a putting contest out here really this week. Much more so than anything else because the golf course is really good,” Beem said. “Let’s make birdies. Who cares if we shoot 28-under par.”

Proud Papa: It's been a whirlwind month for former UNLV standout Chad Campbell. First there was the birth of his first child in son Dex. Then he helped America's Ryder Cup team break Europe's streak of three straight wins.

“It was awesome. One of the best feelings I’ve ever had in golf. The whole week was very special," said Campbell, who shot a 67 Friday to stay six strokes out of the lead with a total of 132.

And how did t compare with the birth of Dex?

"Not comparable. It's great being a dad. He's five weeks old," said Campbell, who toted him around the course on Thursday. "It's neat to see his eyes are starting to focus on stuff. Maybe even a little golf in the future."

Golfin' Rebels: In addition to Moore and Campbell, UNLV alumni Charley Hoffman also made the cut. Hoffman matched his first round 67 with another one on Friday to sit at 10-under. But former Rebel Chris Riley missed the cut with a total of 142.

"It is truly one of the top programs in the country," Moore said of UNLV. "I enjoyed every second that I was there. It really helped me to develop my game to where it is now. To be able to get right out on Tour right out of college and not feel out of place and not feel uncomfortable."

Packed Their Bags: Other big-named golfers who didn’t make the cut include Rory Sabbatini (143) and Steve Elkington (149). Rocco Mediate, Tommy Armour III and David Luuterus all withdrew before the start of the second round.

Hands on Harmon: Watney, who relocated to Las Vegas a year ago, caught up with his coach, Butch Harmon, who is in town to help put on a clinic with Timberlake today.

“I actually hadn’t seen Butch for about two months, so we had a nice little session on the range trying to get my backswing wider,” Watney said. “And then we worked really hard on my putting, also. It’s been by far the weakest part of my game this year.”

This and That: Defending champ George McNeill made the cut with consecutive round scores of 67 … The second-round leader has won 18 of 43 stroke-play events in 2008 … Six players have posted two eagles in a round this week. Round 1 was Campbell, Bill Haas, Will MacKenzie and Perez. Round 2 featured Daniel Chopra and Jason Day.

Andy Samuelson is a sports writer/editor for the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at [email protected] or 702-948-7837.

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