Ancer takes 1-shot lead over DeChambeau at Dell Technologies Championship

CROMWELL, Conn. — Brian Harman shot a 4-under 66 on Friday to move to 10-under par and watched that hold up for the second-round lead in the Travelers Championship, thanks in part to a 10-second rule. Harman finished a stroke ahead of Matt Jones and first round co-leader Zach Johnson, who lost a stroke during his round of 68 when his birdie putt hung on the lip of the cup at the third hole for longer than the maximum allowed 10 seconds before falling in, giving him a par. “After 10 seconds, the ball was moving and at that point even if the ball is moving, It’s deemed to be at rest, because it’s on the lip,” Johnson said. “Don’t ask me why, but that’s just the way it is.” Harman had his short game working for the second consecutive day, taking 26 putts after needing only 23 during the first round. “The putter has been really good so far, but I’ve been in position a lot,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of good looks at it. I’m just able to put a little pressure on the course right now, which is nice.” Jones hit 16 of 18 greens for the second consecutive day, following up his first-round 65 with a 66. Bryson DeChambeau (66), Paul Casey (67) and Russell Henley (65) were two strokes back going into the weekend. But Johnson, who started on the 10th tee, had the day’s most interesting round, which included just two birdies, but one amazing par save. He hit the ball into the TPC River Highland’s signature lake on No. 17, dropped across the water near the 16th tee box and then put his third shot within 8 feet of the hole from 234 yards away. “You can’t hit that shot and then not make that putt,” he said. “It felt good to get away with that four. That’s as good an up and down as I’ve ever witnessed or performed.” Lanto Griffin and two-time Travelers champion Bubba Watson were at even par coming into Friday. But both shot a 63 to move into contention heading into the weekend, three shots behind the leader. Watson jump started his round with an eagle on his third hole, the par-5 13th. “I had some mental mistakes yesterday, and then I didn’t make some putts,” said Watson. “Today I started out hotter. I made a good shot on 11, our second hole, made the putt, making a solid par putt on 12, and then that freed me up a little bit. Gave me some confidence going into the next hole where I made the eagle.” Rory McIlroy also is at 7 under after a 69. McIlroy, Watson and Justin Thomas (5 under) were grouped together Thursday and Friday, drawing large galleries. “It definitely helps, Thomas said. “It’s fun playing with good friends. You definitely get more momentum when guys are playing well. I obviously couldn’t get a whole lot of momentum out there. I was kind of hovering around 1- or 2-under. It was pretty much just Bubba today. Rory didn’t play great either and both of us definitely could have had a lot lower rounds” Defending champion Jordan Spieth, tied with Johnson after an opening 63, had a 73 to drop into a tie for 25th at 4 under. His round, which started on the back nine, included a triple bogey on the par-5 13th hole and an eagle on the par-5 sixth, when he put his second shot within 2 feet of the hole from 276 yards away. “I don’t go to the range after 63s very often, and I was there for an hour yesterday trying to figure out the golf swing,” he said. “So it’s not like things are on. Sometimes it can get disguised by rounds, but it’s not far off. It really is close.” Masters champion Patrick Reed, coming off a fourth-place finish in the U.S. Open, shot a 67 to miss the cut by a shot at minus-1.

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FORT WORTH, Texas – Since Phil Mickelson’s last appearance at Colonial in 2010, he has: • Received induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. • Won five tournaments, including the fifth major of his career. • Came close to shooting 59, his birdie bid on the final hole at TPC Scottsdale lipping out. • Played on three winning Presidents Cup teams and had an influential hand in Ryder Cup changes that led to a U.S. win last fall. • Changed swing coaches. • Dealt with health concerns, including arthritis and two sports hernia surgeries. However, on Wednesday as Mickelson reoriented himself with Colonial, he wasn’t exactly focused on the changes in his life but the changes on a course in which he’s won twice. “It still always kind of surprises me,â€� Mickelson said after his pro-am round. “Like, no bunker on 13 caught me off guard. Like, wow, I thought there was a bunker behind the green. “Or the bunker on 14 used to be on the right side of the hole. Now it’s on the left. I guess it’s been that way for seven years. I just haven’t really picked up on it.â€� Mickelson said there was “no real specific reasonâ€� for adding the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational back to his playing schedule this year. Considering he’s a two-time winner of this event but has gone four years since his last PGA TOUR win (the 2013 Open Championship), his return to a place with winning vibes needs little explanation. In 2010 when Mickelson last played here, he ranked sixth on the PGA TOUR in driving distance with a 300.4-yard average. This week, he comes in ranked 65th on TOUR with a 293.8-yard average. Of course, he remains one of the TOUR’s most creative players. A few years ago, Mickelson said Colonial’s course redesign in 2009 no longer gave him a power advantage, and thus he took it off his schedule. Does he think Colonial is a better fit for his game now? “Hard to say,â€� Mickelson responded. “I think if you’re playing well, you can play just about any golf course. “The thing about Colonial is that you can’t overpower Colonial. There are only two par 5s. There are no given birdie holes. “But you can be rewarded. You can birdie just about every hole if you hit a good shot, so there’s a lot of reward for well-struck shots here. I think that’s my favorite thing about this course is that very rarely is a well-struck shot penalized.â€� The first time Mickelson won at Colonial was in 2000. He shot a final-round 7-under 63, which ties for the lowest final-round by the eventual winner. A year later, he was victimized by Sergio Garcia’s final-round 63, losing by two strokes. In 2008, Mickelson won again, hitting a memorable wedge shot out of the trees on the 18th hole to set up his clinching birdie. As his ball rolled into the cup, a jubilant fan dove into Crampton’s Lake next to the green. The next year – the first year of the course redesign — Mickelson was unable to defend his title. His wife Amy had been diagnosed with breast cancer earlier that month and Phil immediately suspended his playing schedule. When he returned in 2010, he shot 71-73 and failed to make the cut. His memories of the course focus on his successful rounds here. “I still remember the course prior to it going under some renovation,â€� he said. On Wednesday, he began plotting out a game plan. With wind gusts to 30 mph this week, and potential rain on the weekend, he isn’t sure how aggressive he’ll be. “That’s kind of a momentary … answer, because I think it changes,â€� he said. “I think it changes with the wind, with the pin position each hole. I think it changes with how you feel, what you feel more comfortable with off the tee. “I think that you have to attack this golf course to win. I think the years that I won, I ended up shooting low scores at some point. I know I shot 63 the first time I won it. “You have to kind of get after this course and make birdies, but you also have to kind of pick and choose when to get aggressive.â€� After choosing to return to Colonial this week, he hopes to reignite some of his past glory. A lot has happened since his last visit, but like a reunion of old friends, Mickelson hopes this week’s experience will be fun and memorable.

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If Segment 1 of PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf has felt like more of a grind than the usual soft open, that's because that's exactly what it's been. Not only are there a record 12 tournaments contributing but the cut at The RSM Classic was a crude reminder to many of its latest iteration (low 65 and ties) now in its second season. A year ago, I went just 1-for-6 at Sea Island. It was crushing in every sense, but it was a perfect example of why making cuts in this website's fantasy game is the top priority, and especially in a field with the maximum 156 in play. I managed to get four into the weekend at the RSM this year, but based on the experiences of many who have shared publicly, I was fortunate. A closer look at the cut and those cut helped explain. Exactly 65 golfers survived the 36-hole cut two weeks ago. Among the 13 who missed it on the number was Justin Rose. He was the sixth-most owned at 34.15 percent. Sungjae Im (second-most), Dylan Frittelli (fifth-most), Sebastián Muñoz (seventh-most) and Louis Oosthuizen (eighth-most) also failed to cash. RELATED: Power Rankings | Expert Picks | Sleeper Picks This week's 132-man Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN concludes Segment 1, so play ‘em if you got ‘em. ShotLink is not used, so your only targets are par breakers, low scores and leaderboard finish. When Brendon Todd prevailed at El Camaleón Golf Club a year ago as a 34-year-old, he brought the average age of the winners down. It was by only 0.07 to 34.85, which slots in the prime of a career, but it's not often that a course rewards the veteran ball-strikers as much. Seven of the first 12 winners were older at the time of their victories. The next stop on the schedule is the Sentry Tournament of Champions on Jan. 7-10. Because of the three-month shutdown due to the pandemic last season, this season's edition of the Sentry TOC will include all 30 golfers who qualified for the TOUR Championship. Of them, 17 didn't win an event since the 2020 edition, so the preliminary field stands at 45. This week's champion will be the last to qualify. Thirteen committed at Mayakoba already are eligible to open 2021 at Kapalua. Because Mayakoba wraps 2020, this is the last Fantasy Insider of the year. It's why the birthdays at the bottom extend all the way through Monday, Jan. 4. I've heard from many full-season gamers who were looking for my annual full-membership fantasy ranking. If you also missed it, the reduction of workable time late in the 2019-20 season and the absence of time in between seasons reduced this year's edition to a this preview, but I'm always available to review your situation privately. The most efficient connection point is via Twitter's Direct Messaging. Thank you as always for your loyalty to our fantasy content and gaming. This gig remains just as much fun and rewarding as it did when I hopped into the seat in 2010. It's entirely because of you. Until we meet again, please continue to respect yourself and others as it concerns the pandemic so as to remain healthy and to eliminate disruption in your daily life. PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf My roster for the Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN (in alphabetical order): Abraham Ancer Daniel Berger Joel Dahmen Harris English Emiliano Grillo Brooks Koepka You'll find my starters in Expert Picks Others to consider for each category (in alphabetical order): Scoring: Brian Gay; Doug Ghim; Patton Kizzire; Peter Malnati; Sebastián Muñoz; Joaquin Niemann; Rory Sabbatini; Justin Thomas Driving: n/a POWER RANKINGS WILD CARD Pat Perez ... The 44-year-old has carved out a reputation as a wizard on paspalum. It's seriously supported by his experience at Mayakoba where he prevailed in 2016 and finished inside the top 10 in the last two years. Overall, he's 7-for-8 with five top 20s. However, a recent slide cannot be ruled out as attributable to foot and ankle soreness that plagued him in August. The play is to go for it in a format in which you can be aggressive in places. DRAWS Brendon Todd ... This is a mild endorsement for the defending champion. He's been erratic of late and he missed the cut in his title defense on Bermuda, but he remains the product of the formula that's proven time and again at Mayakoba. En route to a T37 in his last start at Sea Island, he led the field in fairways hit, but he ranked T53 in greens in regulation despite averaging 12.75 per round. That's enough to retain our confidence, but his sticker price in DFS likely squeezes him out of cost-effective decisions. Russell Henley ... Ten consecutive cuts made upon arrival and one of the best tee to green this season. Quite simply, he's done nothing in recent memory to suggest that his next slump is looming. Joaquin Niemann ... He's likely over the frustration not to have been able to compete in the Masters due to COVID-19, and he finished T44 at Sea Island the following week, so all systems are go again. This is his third start at Mayakoba where he's hung up three red numbers in six rounds but didn't come close to contending in his debut in 2018 (T60). Chez Reavie ... Now 39 years of age, it'd surprise no one if he's posing for pictures with the chameleon trophy this week. Perfect in seven trips with a T4 (2016), a T14 (2017) and T26s in the last two editions, his combination of accuracy off the tee and precision on approach is repeatable and sustainable. While that's an obvious analysis, he's well-documented as streaky throughout his career, so even though he's been quiet since a T3 at the Safeway Open to launch into 2020-21, Mayakoba is on the short list of tests that can spark his next surge. Adam Long ... In full disclosure, he's among my favorites, both in fantasy and reality. Now in his third season, he's continued to maintain a pace of cracking the top 25 in half of his cuts made. It means that he's unafraid of getting in the mix on the weekend. He's also missed only one cut in his last 12 starts, nine of which had a cut. The 33-year-old is balanced throughout his bag, but he sets up his consistency with an exceptional game off the tee. In last year's debut at Mayakoba when he arrived in similar form to his current, he shared runner-up honors. Camilo Villegas ... Fresh off an emotional and inspiring T6 at Sea Island, he returns to Mayakoba for the first time in three years. He missed just one cut in five consecutive trips. Billy Horschel Charles Howell III John Huh Peter Malnati Denny McCarthy Graeme McDowell Brian Stuard FADES Rickie Fowler ... Aside from his current position as the poster boy of those clinging to a spot inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking to gain entry into the 2021 Masters, that fact is reason enough to hold your breath. He's finished second (2017) and T15 (2018) at Mayakoba, but 2020 has been an experience in connecting with swing changes that haven't translated into a top 10 post-hiatus and a top 25 in his last seven starts. Trap. Marc Leishman ... If I made space for another Wild Card, he'd have filled it. He's rested since a T13 at the Masters where he ranked T4 in greens hit and led the field in par-5 scoring. Because he's played well there before and due to the insular environment on the whole, it could be an anomaly but it's still representative that his game isn't as far off as it was in every other start since play resumed. Making his first appearance at Mayakoba in four years, so treat it as a bonus if you own him in a full-season format; otherwise, be careful. Charley Hoffman ... In what has been an effective 2020, he's scattered six top-15 finishes, including a pair this season, but the 2014 Mayakoba champ is 0-for-5 and hasn't broken 70 here since. Gary Woodland ... Runner-up here in 2016 and he's 4-for-4 since 2009, so he loves the place, but it's still a curious decision to give it a go given the torn labrum in his hip and subsequent discomfort in his back. Kyle Stanley ... His T6 at Sea Island was a personal best in six appearances, all of which resulting in a payday, but it's time to abstain if you remain in the same lane. Just 2-for-6 at Mayakoba with missed cut in his last three tries. Brian Harman ... It's relative in the context that if you're looking only for a cut made, fine. He's 4-for-4 at Mayakoba since 2015. However, the best of the bunch was a T40 to spark that streak. Prior to missing the cut at Sea Island where he's played much better over time - it's not surprising given that he's a local - he strung together nine top 40s dating back to the Wyndham Championship. Byeong Hun An ... Off to a rough start with four missed cuts sandwiching guaranteed paydays at Shadow Creek (T42) and Sherwood (T35). Missed the cut in only prior trip to Mayakoba in 2017. Andy Ogletree ... This is just a courtesy reminder to keep an eye on him. The 2019 U.S. Amateur champion is making his professional debut at Mayakoba. In his last start, he captured the Silver Cup as the low amateur at the Masters (T34). Rafa Cabrera Bello Will Gordon Adam Hadwin Luke List Brendan Steele Kristoffer Ventura RETURNING TO COMPETITION Henrik Norlander ... Untimely contraction of COVID-19 led to his early withdrawal at Sea Island, but the positive spin is that he missed only one the one tournament since the PGA TOUR was dark for Thanksgiving. While he's no doubt eager to pierce the turf again, and while his profile as a ball-striker fits Mayakoba well, invest fractionally at most in DFS. This is his third appearance, so he knows the property. Michael Kim ... Walked off Seaside during his first round of The RSM Classic with a sore back. Same thing happened during his opener at the Barracuda Championship four months ago. It's been 26 months since he's cashed in a tournament with a cut. NOTABLE WDs Cameron Tringale ... Opted to begin his holiday break follwoing the solo third at Sea Island instead of another week on the road. He's connected for only one top-45 finish at Mayakoba, anyway, that a T25 in 2017. Currently 33rd in the FedExCup. Matt Jones ... Since 2013, the Aussie made the cut in all four trips to Mayakoba but none yielded a top 30. Currently 59th in the FedExCup thanks in part to a T14 at Corales and a T4 on Bermuda. Brandt Snedeker ... He hadn't appeared at El Camaleón since the inaugural edition in 2007, so his commitment was curious in the first place. Sits 121st in the FedExCup with one top 40 (T17, Sanderson Farms) among four cuts made in seven starts. Gamers never have worried about him, but he's not yet fully exempt for next season and he'll turn 40 next Tuesday (see Birthdays below). Danny Lee ... Since his unfortunate experience at the U.S. Open, he's 2-for-4 with a T21 at Shadow Creek, but it's one of only two top 25s since play resumed in June. He figured to log one more at Mayakoba where he's recorded a pair of podium finishes and a T25 since 2014, but it'll have to wait. Led outright here last year with a course record-tying 62 in the first round before fading to finish T26. Martin Trainer ... Also withdrew early from the Bermuda Championship but he missed both cuts since. In fact, he's missed 15 in a row dating back to February and he's cashed only once in an event with a cut in almost 20 months. POWER RANKINGS RECAP - THE RSM CLASSIC Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Webb Simpson T37 2 Sungjae Im MC 3 Sebastián Muñoz MC 4 Russell Henley T30 5 Corey Conners T10 6 Mackenzie Hughes MC 7 Ian Poulter T50 8 C.T. Pan MC 9 Denny McCarthy MC 10 Brian Harman MC 11 Zach Johnson T6 12 Tyrrell Hatton T23 13 Louis Oosthuizen MC 14 Brian Gay DNP 15 Alex Noren T18 Wild Card Justin Rose MC SLEEPERS RECAP - THE RSM CLASSIC Golfer Result Ryan Armour MC Scott Brown MC Russell Knox MC Hank Lebioda MC Davis Thompson MC BIRTHDAYS AMONG ACTIVE GOLFERS ON THE PGA TOUR December 1 ... D.A. Points (44) December 2 ... Alex Cejka (50); Shawn Stefani (39) December 3 ... none December 4 ... Matt Every (37); Harry Higgs (29) December 5 ... Ryan Moore (38) December 6 ... none December 7 ... Luke Donald (43); Billy Horschel (34) December 8 ... Brandt Snedeker (40) December 9 ... Wyndham Clark (27) December 10 ... Brian Stuard (38); Wes Roach (32) December 11 ... none December 12 ... Nate Lashley (38) December 13 ... Rickie Fowler (32) December 14 ... Brian Gay (49) December 15 ... Sam Ryder (31) December 16 ... Trevor Immelman (41) December 17 ... Tim Clark (45) December 18 ... D.J. Trahan (40) December 19 ... none December 20 ... none December 21 ... none December 22 ... Richy Werenski (29) December 23 ... Daniel Chopra (47) December 24 ... none December 25 ... none December 26 ... none December 27 ... Charley Hoffman (44); Doc Redman (23) December 28 ... Martin Kaymer (36) December 29 ... Martin Laird (38) December 30 ... Tiger Woods (45) December 31 ... none January 1 ... none January 2 ... none January 3 ... Charlie Wi (49) January 4 ... Sebastián Muñoz (28)

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