Golf: Leishman leads Wise by one at low-scoring Byron Nelson

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Tom Hoge maintained a share of the lead Friday at the Wyndham Championship, this time alongside Si Woo Kim, Talor Gooch and Billy Horschel. Hoge, tied for the first-round lead with Harold Varner III and Roger Sloan, kept in front with a steady 2-under 68 to get to 10 under par. RELATED: Leaderboard | Simpson, Todd feed off friendly energy | Projected FedExCup standings Hoge, whose best-ever TOUR finish was a second at A Military Tirbute at The Greenbrier this season, was asked what it would take for his first PGA TOUR win. “There’s a lot to that question,” he said. The answer could be as simple as regaining his first-round form when he had seven birdies, an eagle and one par. This time, Hoge was more up and down with five birdies and three bogeys. Kim, whose first TOUR victory came here in 2016 and made history a year later as the youngest-ever winner of THE PLAYERS Championship, shot a 65 to move up. Kim got it going on the front nine (his final nine) after starting with nine consecutive pars. He had six bogeys coming in, including the final two holes to move on top. Kim’s approach shots down the stretch were on target — his final five birdie putts were all from 12 feet or closer. He said the rough at Sedgefield Country Club was “more sticky and deep” this year. “It helps more to hit fairway, that’s really important,” Kim said. “That’s why I hit it more, try to focus on … the fairway.” Like Hoge, the 28-year-old Gooch is seeking his first TOUR victory. Like Kim, Gooch shot 65 to get into the foursome on top. It was the first time on TOUR Gooch, who opened with a 65, had multiple rounds that low in the same event. He had six birdies, including two of his final three holes, to move up. “Anytime you shoot 65, it does’t matter who, what, when, where, why, you’ve done some good,” he said. Horschel shot 64 and had birdies on four of last six holes, including a tricky 7-footer on his final one, the ninth, to join the lead group. Horschel won the 2014 FedExCup and said this time of year charges him up. “I like it when the pressure’s on and everyone’s looking at you and you need to step up and doing something special,” he said. The four were a stroke ahead of Harris English (67) , Varner (69), Andrew Landry (65), Doc Redman (64) and the Open champ Shane Lowry, who shot a 63 to tie for Friday’s low round with Jason Kokrak. Lowry did not get to defend his major when the tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic. He also entered the week at 131 in FedExCup points, outside of the upcoming Playoffs. After a bogey on his second hole, Lowry had six birdies and an eagle to move into contention. “Obviously, I’m outside the FedExCup number and out of Boston next week, so I need to keep playing some good golf and try and polish off a good week,” he said. Kokrak was in a group of seven one shot further back along with past Wyndham champ Webb Simpson, who shot his second straight 66. Those three strokes back included Patrick Reed (68), Paul Casey (66) and Tommy Fleetwood (64). A pair of major champions in the thick of last week’s PGA Championship in Brooks Koepka and Justin Rose did not make the cut. Koepka had a 70, including a triple-bogey 7 on the 10th hole, to finish at 2 over, 12 shots behind. Rose rallied to a 67 after an opening 73, but his even-par was not enough to continue. “Not physically tired, more mentally,” said Koepka, who’s played in sixth straight tournaments with the Playoffs ahead. “But I’ve got the weekend off.”

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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Sahith Theegala had the luxury to relax this offseason. He has a two-year exemption after qualifying for this year’s TOUR Championship, a well-earned reward for a successful rookie season. He could’ve returned home to California or his adopted hometown of Houston and kicked up his feet after an eventful first year that included several close calls with victory. There’s just one problem. “I’m an addict and I just love to play,” he said. The RSM Classic, the final PGA TOUR event of 2022, is Theegala’s 38th start since the start of last season, one off the TOUR high. It’s his sixth start of this fall season, as well. His decision to tee it up one last time could pay big dividends, and provide the perfect ending to a year that began with Theegala just hoping to keep his card. He is just one shot off the lead entering the final round at Sea Island Resort. He had his share of close calls this year, from Arizona to Connecticut and several stops in between and is poised to capitalize on those experiences. He broke par both times he was a 54-hole leader last season but didn’t go low enough to take home the trophy. There were heartbreaking finishes at the WM Phoenix Open and Travelers Championship, where he was undone by drives that found trouble. But Theegala has won fans with the poise with which he handled those heartbreaks. Even though Sunday’s high temperature isn’t forecast to get above 55 degrees, he’ll likely need a low one if he wants to end 2022 on a winning note. Even when the weather turns ugly, as it can in the fall on the Atlantic coast, Sea Island’s Seaside Course is forgiving enough to allow plenty of birdies. Patrick Rodgers, who shares The RSM Classic’s 54-hole lead with Ben Martin, knows that better than anyone. It was here three years ago that he shot 61-62 on the weekend to post the lowest score in TOUR history over the final two rounds of a tournament. It wasn’t enough to win, however, as he lost in a playoff to Charles Howell III. Like Theegala, Rodgers is a former collegiate star seeking his maiden victory. Rodgers, 30, has had to wait a bit longer, however. Theegala won the Haskins Award as college golf’s top player two years ago. Rodgers earned that honor in 2014, as part of a career at Stanford that saw him break Tiger Woods’ school record for lowest scoring average (70.3) and tie Woods’ mark for career wins (11). Rodgers has been a runner-up three times in his 226 starts on TOUR. He had another close call earlier this fall at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, where he shot 65 in the final round to finish third, two shots behind winner Seamus Power. Ten players will start The RSM’s final round within two shots of the lead, and many of those players, like Rodgers and Theegala, will be looking for their first win while others, such as Martin and Andrew Putnam, will be looking to win again several years after their maiden title. Putnam, Theegala and Adam Svensson will start the final round at 13 under par, one off the lead. Svensson shot Saturday’s low round, a 62, to move into contention. He will play in Sunday’s final group alongside the co-leaders. Putnam and Theegala, who will play in Sunday’s second-to-last group with local favorite Brian Harman, share an alma mater (Pepperdine) and a caddie connection. Theegala’s caddie, Carl Smith, was working for Putnam before going on Theegala’s bag at last year’s Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Putnam, who won his lone TOUR title at the 2018 Barracuda Championship, has made the cut in all eight of his starts this fall, including a runner-up to Keegan Bradley at THE ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. Martin, who regained his TOUR card at this year’s Korn Ferry Tour Finals, won the 2014 Shriners Children’s Open but has struggled with back injuries since. Among the players who are two back are Presidents Cup participant Taylor Pendrith; another former Haskins Award winner looking for his first win, Beau Hossler; and this season’s breakout rookie, Taylor Montgomery, who ranks 10th in the FedExCup. He has finished in the top 25 in all but one of his six starts. Power, the FedExCup leader, will start the final round three back. Several players have the opportunity to wrest the top spot from him and start 2023 atop the standings. But first, there is one round remaining in 2022. It promises to be an eventful one that will change someone’s career. “You kind of want to leave,” said Theegala, “with a good taste in your mouth.”

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