AVONDALE, La. Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and others had a high score in mind after a round of 67 with three bogeys that left them outside the cutline.
“As low and as fast as we can,” Schauffele replied with a smirk.
Mission accomplished. The Zurich Classic of New Orleans defending champions shot an tournament record 9-under-63 at TPC Louisiana, including an eagle. This was not only four strokes more than the best-ball score from a previous day, but it also broke the alternate-shot record by two shots. Cantlay & Schauffele explained how they were able to flip the script.
Schauffele stated that “it was necessary”.
Cantlay explained that “when you have two top-notch players playing together, and we are both having a good day like today, it’s possible to post a low score.”
Cantlay called their opening round 67 “an anomaly” and said that after a “painful laugh,” the Nos. The Nos. 4 and 5 players of the world were able to right the ship, before a poor finish in the final stretch.
They were motivated by the quick turnaround. Cantlay woke up at 3:30 am, and Schauffele at 4:00. The foursomes format or alternate shot was their favorite, especially in international competition.
They wasted no time in gaining ground on the leaderboard. Schauffele started the day by squeezing a wedge to a foot from 100 yards at No. Their first hole was 10. Cantlay still had work to do on 11, where he sank a 5-foot par 5 birdie. Schauffele made a 31-footer from the edge of the green at 13, giving them their third birdie after four holes. Cantlay saved the day when Schauffele hit it into a bunker on 15.
On fire
Team Schauffele/Cantlay move to T1 after another birdie @Zurich_Classic. pic.twitter.com/xU9lX1iaUT
— PGA TOUR April 21, 2020
Cantlay hit a 311 yard drive on the par-4 16, th. Schauffele pitched the ball to four feet, and Cantlay was successful in the green. Cantlay holed a 15-footer for an eagle to finish their first nine with a tournament record of 6-under 30.
Schauffele stated that “he didn’t require any assistance in reading the putt.” “He knocked the putt right in.”
Cantlay said that the eagle shot at 18 was a big one. We knew we needed to play well to have a chance of getting back in this tournament. And we’re on a good position going into the weekend.
After the turn, there would be no slowed down. Schauffele was next to make a 15-foot par at the first. Cantlay’s routine birdie at the par-5 2nd hole, where Schauffele hit his approach shot into a bunker about 40 yards from the green, didn’t stop them. Schauffele’s putter blazed for one last circle on the scorecard, a 24 foot birdie at hole five. A suspension of play, which delayed the round by two hours and forty-seven minutes, was the only thing to dampen their performance.
Schauffele stated, “We were flowing well before the break. Who knows what might have happened?”
Garrick Higgo, Branden Grace, Jason Day and Jason Scrivener held the previous record for foursomes of 65 in 2019. Cantlay and Schauffele continue to write the tournament records – they already hold the 54-hole, 72-hole and 18-hole best ball marks. The tournament format will return to best-ball on Saturday. Cantlay replied, “We would like to achieve that 59 in best-ball again.” We’re going try.”
