Kim-Putnam take Zurich Classic lead into weekend while Spieth-Thomas, Garcia-Rahm miss cut

AVONDALE – After incredibly low scoring on Thursday in the better ball format, many of the top players in the world came back to reality Friday at the Zurich Classic.

It was not that the TPC of Louisiana course played tougher. It was simply a matter of the alternate shot format kicking in.

It is, by all accounts, tougher to not hit a driver for a few holes or a wedge or putt, for that matter. Developing rhythm and consistency are the challenges and were for players on this day.

Michael Kim and Andrew Putnam backed up an opening round 62 with a three-under-par 69 Friday.
The duo overcame a double bogey on the fifth hole with five birdies, including on the sixth hole with a solid response to the disaster on No. 5.

“I think that we definitely capitalized on our good shots,” Putnam said. “You kind of have to do that. When one person hit a bad shot, the next person had a good recovery. It wasn’t our prettiest golf but the name of the game is scoring. That’s what we did.”

Kim says he and Putnam adjusted to the format as the round progressed.

“Alternate shot is a pretty rare format for us but I felt like we handled it pretty well today,” Kim said. “
Putnam was certain that 62 was not going to be realistic in the second round with the alternate shot format.”

Putnam knew that scores would rise today.

“We knew kind of what to expect, scores were going to be a little higher today,” Putnam said. “Just going in with par’s a good mentality, I think we did pretty good.”

Did the course play any differently from Thursday?

“I thought it was pretty similar other than the fact that we had to play one ball,” Kim said. “The course is playing pretty nice out there.”

The team of Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown shot a second round 70 and are at 12-under 132 for the tournament, one shot back. The duo finished second here a year ago, falling in a playoff to Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith.

Blixt and Smith missed the cut, ballooning to a second round 76 to finish at three-under 141.

Nate Lashley and Rob Oppenheim fired a 69 and are at 11-under-par for the event.

Chad Campbell and Matt Jones finished with a second round 70 and are also at 11 under par. The pair played a consistent round with three birdies and one bogey.

Campbell is excited to be in contention heading into the weekend.

“Yeah, I think we’re in a good position,” Campbell said. “Keep doing what we’re doing and I think we’ll be all right.”

With the better ball format returning on Saturday, Jones knows the duo will have to go low.

“Yeah, I mean birdies are what’s going to count tomorrow,” Jones said. “We are going to have to make plenty of them. I think we’re both going to be aggressive and try and make as many as we can.”

Tony Finau and Daniel Summerhays finished with an even par 72 and remained at 10-under for the tournament.

Cody Gribble and John Peterson of LSU fashioned a solid four-under-par 68 to get to 10-under for the tournament. Gribble felt the pressure of performing for his partner in the alternate shot format.

“Yeah, it’s a little nerve wracking going from best ball the first day and today just having one shot; you don’t have the cushion with the other player. But, I mean, John’s driver and tee ball these last few days has been nothing short of almost perfect. I mean, it was kind of relaxing the last few days. We made some good putts, some good pars that have fallen our way.”

Peterson cited his familiarity with the TPC of Louisiana course which he knows very well.

“I probably played here 30 times, 40 times,” Peterson said. “A lot during college and then, yeah, the last six years here. Very familiar with this place. Know where to hit it on every pin. Just excited to actually be able to do it for once.”

The top players in the world had mixed results.

The duo of Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar had an outstanding round of 67 and are at nine-under-par. Masters champion Patrick Reed of University High and Patrick Cantlay had a 71 and are at eight-under, along with the team of Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose, as well as Zack Johnson and Jonathan Byrd.

Jimmy Walker and Sean O’Hair are at seven-under.

Jason Day and Ryan Ruffels will play the weekend, along with the teams of Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry as well as Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen. All made the cut on the number at six-under-par.

Among the prominent players missing the cut were the teams of Justin Thomas and Bud Cauley, along with the duo of Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer and the pairing of Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello. All finished at four-under par 140.

John Rahm and Wesley Bryan missed the cut at three-under-par.

It will be the top 35 remaining teams returning Saturday as the format reverts to the better ball format which produced very low scores Friday. With excellent weather anticipated, look for the scores to go low once again.