PARAMUS, N.J. — With two perfect shots, Hunter Mahan put a terrible week at the PGA Championship behind him at The Barclays.
Playing in calm morning conditions at demanding Ridgewood Country Club, Mahan split the fairway with his opening drive, then watched his 98-yard sand wedge shot spin back into the hole for an unlikely eagle. Seventeen holes and eight birdies later, he signed for a 9-under-par 62, good for a four-stroke lead Thursday in the FedEx Cup playoff opener.
“I was surprised to shoot so low,” Mahan said. “I didn’t have any idea what was going to be a good score out here. . . . It’s definitely not that easy. It’s perfect conditions. You’ve got great weather.
“The course is in perfect shape right now. Playing in the morning helped a lot. The greens were a little bit more receptive.”
Two weeks ago in the PGA at Oakland Hills, Mahan shot 81-79 to miss the cut, and made news with critical remarks about the Ryder Cup in a Golf magazine interview.
“I wanted to get that out of my system and just play golf today — and I did,” Mahan said. “It was a pretty tough week, but you learn from your mistakes.”
England’s Paul Casey shot a 66, and Bo Van Pelt, Kevin Streelman, Mathew Goggin, Charley Hoffman and Dudley Hart had 67s. Steve Stricker, the winner last year at Westchester Country Club, topped the group at 68.
Lee advances at U.S. Am
PINEHURST, N.C. — Danny Lee, the world’s top-ranked amateur at 18, cruised past both of his opponents in match play and moved within three wins of supplanting Tiger Woods as the youngest champion in U.S. Amateur history.
He dominated Clemson freshman Jacob Burger 5 and 4 in the second round, then defeated Wichita State’s Connor McHenry 7 and 6.
Also advancing to the quarterfinals were Derek Fathauer, Drew Kittleson, Morgan Hoffman, Adam Mitchell, Charlie Holland, Patrick Reed and Graham Hill.
Saturday’s semifinal winners square off in a 36-hole final Sunday.
The Associated Press
