Simpson breaks out to take Colonial lead

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Here are nine tidbits from the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Be looking for the Emergency 9 shortly after the close of play of each round of the tournament. PAIN OR GAIN These were the top-five picked golfers in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO: The top three above are currently in the top five. Pat Perez checks in safely at T23, but Brandt Snedeker will have to move up a few shots on Saturday to make the 54-hole cut. He’s currently two-under-par and tied for 70th. The top 60 and ties will play Pebble Beach on Sunday. The Great One Wayne Gretzky’s de facto son-in-law, Dustin Johnson, posted his 21st round in the 60’s from 40 chances on the Monterey Peninsula. His 64 Friday matches his second-best round ever and missed the best by a shot. His 63 at Pebble Beach in round one in 2012 is the best of the bunch. His rounds of 67-64 (-12) ties him with Beau Hossler for the lead, and he’ll play the weekend at Pebble Beach. If the wind blows tomorrow afternoon as predicted, he’ll be licking his chops. Merritt Badge Troy Merritt’s 67 at Pebble Beach yesterday included three bogeys, an eagle and six birdies. His 67 at Spyglass Hill Friday included zero bogeys or others and five birdies. He’ll begin Saturday 10-under-par on the Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course), the easiest of the three courses in play this week. Every shot and dollar counts this week as Merritt is playing out of the Web.com priority list. He’s MC in five of eight events and his biggest check cashed T51 money after Shriners. He’s never made the cut in six previous visits to this event, including the last four years in a row. Invitation Only Duke grad Julian Suri is ranked No. 66 in the OWGR and is in the field this week on a sponsor’s exemption. He won twice last year in Europe (one Challenge Tour, one European Tour) but his first two TOUR events this season saw him collect T63 at Torrey Pines and MC last week in Scottsdale. He’s made 13 birdies in two rounds this week and currently sits T3. This event is notoriously tough on rookies and first-time players. He’ll have two rounds this weekend at Pebble Beach to be an exception to that rule or just another statistic. Gamers should be aware of him regardless. Jordan Rules World No. 3 Jordan Spieth bounced back nicely today at MPCC as he birdied five of his first seven holes to get back into the fight. His 66 moved him up 75 spots to T23, and he’ll be one that will be begging for tough conditions Saturday so he can get back into his title defense. He hit less fairways and greens than he did yesterday, so it’s obvious which club started cooperating. Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood Stanford grad Patrick Rodgers is known for his 11 collegiate victories. but he hasn’t found the winner’s circle on TOUR just yet. His 65 at MPCC moved him up 42 spots to T11 after an opening 70 at Spyglass Hill. Rodgers ranks 195th in putting average this season but is leading the field this week after two rounds. Caution. Rory’s Retreat After six birdies to open with 68 at the usually more difficult Spyglass Hill, gamers who were riding the form of the 2016 FedExCup champion probably expected another low one today at MPCC. In fact, just the opposite rang true as Rory McIlroy had to absorb four bogeys and a double against only three birdies for 74. He’s T87 after dropping 71 spots and will have to take his frustrations out on Pebble Beach Saturday. He needed 25 putts on Thursday and 38 on Friday. Playing from Behind Last week’s winner Gary Woodland will also need a big, bad weekend on Pebble Beach, as he’s the eighth-most selected player in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO. I’ll remind gamers he made 10 birdies on Pebble Beach last year on Sunday to claim his first top 10 in three tries. He might need TWO rounds of that, bartender, to make noise this year. It’s not over, yet. Study Hall Angel Cabrera has WD from the professional competition but is sticking around for the Pro-Am portion.  Graeme McDowell, winner of the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, shot 71 at Pebble Beach yesterday but backed that up with 80 at Spyglass Hill today. … Beau Hossler, who is tied with Dustin Johnson for first, hasn’t made a bogey yet this week. … Jason Day, winner at the Farmers Insurance Open, lit up his card with 65 today at MPCC. He was joined on that number by Rodgers, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker. … Denny McCarthy signed for the lowest round of the day at Spyglass Hill with 66. Jon Rahm led the crew of three with 67 at Pebble Beach.      

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