ENDICOTT (N.Y.) — Can the big man with a dreamy swing win the game this time at En-Joie Golf Course in Endicot?
Ernie Els has the opportunity to achieve this goal as he is one of three shareholders in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open’s lead after 36 holes.
The participants on Saturday avoided a second day with suspect weather forecasts. Once again, Sunday’s starting time will be lowered in anticipation of more unpleasant weather.
Els, along with Miguel Angel Jimenez, Brett Quigley and other leaders, each at 12 under par, will convene on the 1st tee 10:20 am, less than two hours later after the first starters of a third round of double-tee escapes. This is several hours earlier than the original tournament plan.
These concerns aside, how favorable were the Round 2 conditions in conjunction with the competitors’ level of skill? The trio that set the pace combined for 23 birdies, and zero bogeys.
Els, 53 and winner of his most recent three PGA Tour Champions tournaments in March
- Dick’s Open 2021 led by three after 36 holes, and by two by the turn on Sunday. He finished second with a score of 72.
He crammed all four of his birdies in a four-hole section, concluding on the par-5 12 . This man, who has eight top-10s from 11 events and is the tour leader for par-3 scoring average, clearly knows what he’s doing.
He said, “I scrambled a little on the front nine. I didn’t have my swing quite going there. But up-and-down the ball, and I made some birdies.” “I found it and made a few birdies on the back nine but I was kind of around the hole.
What aspects of Sunday’s game would he choose to be perfect?
He said, “I’ll always choose the putter.” “I think that you will have to putt some.” I believe the scores will be low. The course is in excellent condition. It depends on the weather. But I think that the guys will score low. So you have to make sure your putter is working, and put it into play to attack the Flags.”
Jimenez had a similar Saturday, finishing with a 31 on the backside and a birdie in the final hole. He is a 13 time PGA Tour Champions champion, with 14 runner up finishes (56 top 5) and a three-time win in 2022.
This is his third consecutive 8-under-par 64 on the PGA Tour Champions.
He said, “I played well both days. I was very solid.” “I played very well (Friday), but made a few bogeys. I missed a lot birdie opportunities as well as making 8 under par today, no bogeys. Very solid. “I had many birdie chances all day, and then on the 18th I got it. What a finish.”
Regarding possible weather concerns for Round 3: “Just have patience. That’s all you need when the conditions are bad, like a thunderstorm. But you still have to be patient.” It’s only golf that you do, isn’t it?
“We are fortunate because it was supposed to rain on Saturday, and what a gorgeous day to go golfing. We hope that the weather will be better for Sunday.
Quigley is 53 and has been a 10 time En-Joie guest in B.C. In his DSGO debut, Quigley placed 37 th. He is fifth in the tour for average placing and has 20 th money list.
He birdied Nos. 15-18.
“I saw that when I turned, the scores were low. Then I saw Ernie make a few more birdies to get it up to 12,” he said. “I knew that I had to keep my foot on the gas and continue making birdies. Fortunately, I finished with four. It’s nice.
“I played well on the entire back nine. I think I made every green, or at least had some good puts. It’s easy to get excited when you start playing here, but it can be difficult to stay calm. “I made the 15th hole, two-putted 16, and had a good shot on 17. All of a sudden it was four consecutive holes.”
Joe Durant, the 18-hole leader, made par on all of his first 10 holes. He broke the seal in the 11 th hole and finished with a bogey free 69. Thongchai Jaidee and the defending champion Padraig harrington are both 9 under.
Harrington, who made a birdie on 18 from the fringe, said, “I hit the ball well on Friday, but I really did make some bad decisions.” I was mentally exhausted from the U.S. Open last week in Los Angeles. It took me more than I thought. Today I scored well, and was much better than yesterday. There were four or five eagle opportunities during the round. It was great to make a 20-footer at the end.”
What is his current position?
He said, “It is easier to chase. It’s mentally easier to chase.” “I’d prefer to be in the lead, but chasing is harder. Nobody really knows. If you play well out there, that’s great. But if not, no one really notices. The chaser has less stress, but you still want that lead.
Odds & Ends
Kevin Sutherland (Mr. 59 at En-Joie in 2014) was the only player to hold the lead at 9-under after making six birdies on his first twelve holes. He played his final six holes in 2-over, one day after he was 7-under and had played those four holes 4-over.
Retief Goosen had eagles on the 12 th, and 16 thholes on his way to an 66. He only made one bogey at No. 7). He is the eleventh player this season to make multiple eagles during a single round.
The Dick’s Open winner has broken 16-under 200 five times. The tournament record is Lonnie Nielsen’s 21 under 195 in 2009.
Bernhard Langer, the 2014 DSGO champion who is chasing a record 46th PGA Tour Champions title, is currently T15 with 138 at 6 under.
