Advertisement

Zach Johnson part of four-way tie after 36 holes in PGA Tour opener

Zach Johnson hits his tee shot at the par-three 11th hole during the second round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Golf Club's Plantation course on Saturday.
(Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
Share

Zach Johnson putted for birdie on every hole and made seven of them Saturday for a six-under-par 67 that put him in a four-way tie for the lead after two rounds of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii.

Johnson was halfway home to becoming the first repeat winner at Kapalua who wasn’t from Australia -- Stuart Appleby and Geoff Ogilvy were the others. But not only is the first PGA Tour event of the year only through 36 holes, it’s extraordinarily crowded.

“There’s a little bit of rust going on, less than there used to be,” Ogilvy said. “I think in the good old days … they hadn’t hit a shot in a few months and they’d show up and shank their first three shots on the range. They would just cruise into the year, basically. I think that happens a lot less these days.”

Advertisement

Jimmy Walker dropped a stroke late and shot 68. Russell Henley got off to a sluggish start before a solid back nine for a 70. Bae Sang-Moon closed with eight straight pars for a 69. They joined Johnson at 11-under 135.

Hideki Matsuyama and Charley Hoffman shot 66 -- the best rounds of the day -- to match Brendon Todd (67), Patrick Reed (69) and Robert Streb (69) at 10 under.

“I think it’s so competitive,” Henley said. “I think the way guys look at it now, it’s a great opportunity to have a good finish and get off to a great start, if not win.”

::

South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel birdied the first four holes and shot a six-under 66 to take a five-stroke lead after the third round of the South African Open in Johannesburg.

The 2011 Masters champion had a 13-under 203 total at Glendower Golf Club.

England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick (67) and Scotland’s David Drysdale (68) were tied for second.

Advertisement