PHOENIX OPEN

PHOENIX OPEN

Fowler closes with four straight birdies for lead

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.

After the opening round of the Phoenix Open, Rickie Fowler lamented a missed putt that would have given him the outright lead and household bragging rights.

Following an impressive string of birdies to close out his second round, Fowler will get his chance to trash-talk Justin Thomas, his roommate this week.

Fowler closed with four straight birdies for a 6-under 65 on Friday, draining an 8-foot putt on the final hole to take a one-shot lead over Thomas into the weekend.

“Getting to play with your buddies, those are the people you want to lose to the least,” said Fowler, who was at 13-under 129 after opening with a 64.

Branden Grace aced the 193-yard seventh hole after switching clubs at his caddie’s advice and was two shots back along with Trey Mullinax. Both shot 64.

Matt Kuchar and Cameron Smith were at 10 under after a second straight day of pristine weather and course conditions.

Phil Mickelson shot 75 and finished 1 over to miss the cut for the fifth time in 30 career starts at the Phoenix Open.

A two-rime runner-up at TPC Scottsdale, Fowler misread a putt on his final hole Thursday that would have given him the outright lead.

Through 14 holes on Friday, it appeared Thomas, who shot 66 to reach 12 under, would again get the household bragging rights.

Fowler made a 4-footer for birdie on the par-3 12th, then two-putted for birdie on No. 15. He made a 10-footer on No. 16, two-putted for birdie on the drivable par-4 17th and smoked a 344-yard drive on the closing hole.

Fowler dropped his approach shot on 18 just behind the hole and sank the 8-footer, sending a roar across TPC Scottsdale.

SAUDI INTERNATIONAL

Johnson holds 3-shot lead after two rounds

KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia

Dustin Johnson shot a course-record 9-under 61 and took a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the Saudi International on Friday.

Third-ranked Johnson is 11 under overall after making seven birdies and an eagle at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Starting on the back nine, he opened with consecutive birdies and added two more to make the turn in 31.

There was another birdie on No. 2, and a 30-foot eagle putt at the fourth. Consecutive birdies from the sixth hole followed before finishing with a pair of pars.

“You always have fun when you’re playing well,” Johnson said. “I did a lot of the same things I did yesterday. It was a very good round.”

Johnson fared much better than the other members of the world’s top three.

Top-ranked Justin Rose missed the cut at 2 over after a 72, while No. 2 Brooks Koepka was tied for 47th at 1 under after a 70.

Associated Press