Bubba Watson leads Zurich

Associated Press

AVONDALE, La.

Bubba Watson’s mother knew best.

Only playing the Zurich Classic of New Orleans because his mother, Molly, talked him into it because she wanted to watch him play, Watson shot a 4-under 68 in shifting wind conditions Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Josh Teater after the second round at TPC Louisiana.

“Mom knew I was going to play pretty good the first two rounds,” said Watson, playing a four-hour drive from his hometown of Bagdad, Fla. “We’ve got two more to go, but she’s right so far.”

Watson, the Torrey Pines winner in late January, had a 10-under 134 total on the Pete Dye-designed course — a layout that he doesn’t think fits his game.

“For me, it’s daunting,” Watson said. “There were a lot of tough tee shots for me. A lot of times the water’s on the left for me being left-handed. “It’s hard to overcome, but somehow I’m overcoming it right now.”

The long-hitting Watson eagled the par-5 11th — his second hole of the round — for the second time, holing a 20-footer to get to 8 under. He added a 4-foot birdie putt on 13 and a 13-footer on 14, but bogeyed the 18th when he hit his third shot over the green from a bunker. He also birdied the seventh with a 3-footer.

“You’re not sure what the wind’s doing on some holes,” said Watson, who has failed to win the three previous times he has had the 36-hole lead. “So, you’re always watching and trying to see what’s going on to figure out how to play the holes.”

Teater shot a 66, dropping two strokes with a double bogey on the par-5 18th.

John Rollins was 8 under after a 69 and Dean Wilson matched the course record with a 64 to join four others at 7 under.