Hastings, Sparks share Latin American Am. lead

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Phil Mickelson was 11 shots worse than his previous round at Quail Hollow. Bryson DeChambeau made an 8 on his 16th hole and headed straight for the exit. RELATED: Leaderboard | Rory McIlroy makes move at Wells Fargo Championship Turns out nothing was as bad as it seemed Friday in the Wells Fargo Championship. Morning gusts gave way to a relentless wind in the afternoon and had just about everyone trying to finish without too much damage. Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland had a 2-under 69 in the morning and shared the 36-hole lead with Matt Wallace (67) and Patrick Rodgers (68). No one in the afternoon could catch them at 6-under 136. Rory McIlroy will be playing on the weekend for the first time in two months. He shot a 66, and by the end of the day, that was good for a tie for fifth, two shots out of the lead. As for Mickelson? Never mind that he followed a 64 with a 75, losing a little focus at the end when different swing thoughts entered his head on holes with water, the wrong kind of ripple effect. “I’m excited to be in contention heading into the weekend, and I know I’m playing well,” Mickelson said. DeChambeau had reason to leave. Two balls in the water on the par-5 seventh led to his triple bogey and sent him to a 74. He was just inside the top 100 when he left without speaking. And then the wind arrived, the scores shot up and he made the cut on the number at 2-over 144. “The hardest conditions I’ve played in a while,” Justin Thomas said after a 73 that included a three-putt double bogey on the par-3 13th. His downhill putt from 18 feet caught a gust so strong it stopped 4 feet short. “Even the downwind holes were hard,” said Carlos Ortiz of Mexico, who has lived in Texas the last 12 years where he described typical conditions as “windy or windier.” Being used to it doesn’t make it easy, though Ortiz managed a 68, the best score in the afternoon. That left him in the group at 4-under 138. Mickelson was in the group another shot behind, determined to put an end to a drought so severe that he hasn’t finished among the top 20 in nine months. Everything felt and looked so easy when he opened with a 64. This was more of a challenge, particularly late in the round, and Mickelson felt his focus lapsing again. He hit into the water on the 14th while deciding whether to hit a draw or a cut (he still managed par; his wedge game is still among the best). After a good tee shot on the par-5 16th, Mickelson wasn’t quite sure what to do with his next one. He pulled it well right of the green, and his high flop shot landed too far and went over the edge. He chipped poorly to about 12 feet and turned what looked to be a sure birdie into a bad bogey. Two holes later, he found the water on the par-5 17th for a double bogey. “The back nine, I just wasn’t sharp,” Mickelson said. “I think an example of what I’ve been talking about is on 17, we’re standing over the ball and I’m changing my mind and I’m changing the shot, moving the clubhead a little bit. Instead of backing away and kind of refocusing, I just hit it and I’m not really aware of what I’m doing. So I’ve got to fix that.” In his mind, he threw away two shots on both the 15th and 17th holes, the difference of a score at par. “I just can’t keep doing that,” Mickelson said. “I’m optimistic for the weekend, though. McIlroy started the second round outside the projected cut line. He has not made it to the weekend since Bay Hill two months ago, which is factual and lacking context. That amounts to only three tournaments — missed cuts at THE PLAYERS Championship and Masters, not advancing from his group at WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. He turned it around quickly, starting with one of his few bad drives. This one on the 14th sailed well to the right of the bunkers, gallery, everything but the mansions just outside the property. He tried to land his wedge anywhere near the green, and just his good fortune, it trundled onto the putting surface and stopped a foot away. That sent him to five birdies over his next eight holes, and right in the mix. “That was probably the catalyst to going on a nice little run,” McIlroy said. Woodland was all smiles. He missed the cut badly last week at Innisbrook, called Butch Harmon and decided to go back to his previous coaches, Harmon and Pete Cowen. It didn’t take long for him to feel better. His hip isn’t bothering him and his swing feels great. Woodland still hasn’t figured out the final stretch, Nos. 16-18, playing them in 3 over through two rounds. But he likes where he’s headed. “I’ve seen some shots this week that I just haven’t seen in a long time,” he said. “The golf swing feels so much better. Confidence has gone way up, which I did not have really in the last year. … It’s exciting right now.” Not so excited was Jon Rahm. He made a late charge until finishing with two bogeys for a 70 to miss the cut for the first time in 11 months.

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It would be irresponsible to open without a reminder that the Genesis Scottish Open is the only tournament this week that contributes to PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, and that it will begin on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. local time. This translates into a roster deadline of 2:15 a.m. ET in the United States. For those of us on the left coast, that’s Wednesday at 11:15 p.m. PT. Adjust per your time zone. RELATED: Horses for Courses, Sleeper picks This means that you can’t wait another sleep to set your lineup. It also means (presumably) that you should be awake late enough to adjust for any 11th-hour withdrawals. Speaking of which, NOTABLE WDs below opens with a disclaimer about the movement in both the Genesis Scottish Open and the Barbasol Championship. I focused only on PGA TOUR members who withdrew from at least one of the tournaments and will not be playing the other. If you follow me on Twitter or monitor the ROB BOLTON TWITTERFEED on the FANTASY page of the desktop version of the website, then you’ll be surprised at how few guys qualify for my criteria for that attention, because this week’s experience has been unlike any other in my career. In other news, this is the last checkpoint of the season when the Korn Ferry Tour Finals graduates will be reordered. With only the Barracuda Championship (played opposite The Open Championship) and three 156-man opens remaining, even the guys at the bottom of the category should have a reasonable chance of playing every week. The impact of the final reorder is greater on the golfers with conditional status and in the Past Champions/Veteran Members category. POWER RANKINGS WILD CARD Viktor Hovland (+175 for a Top 20) … You’re unlikely to find value because of his star power, but the native of Norway hasn’t connected for a top 20 in stroke-play competition since a T19 at THE PLAYERS in mid-March. It’s not that he’s slumped, though. If anything, the zany cadence of the variety of formats can be more challenging despite how fresh they can feel. It’s tough for anyone to find a rhythm, but especially a 24-year-old no matter the skill level. His talent should play up in his debut at The Renaissance Club, but the same could have been said at most other stops in the last three months. DRAWS Hideki Matsuyama (+150 for a Top 20) … First start since finishing fourth at the U.S. Open. As that indicates, he’s an example of how big players make big plays in big games. This week (and next, for that matter) are more opportunities to double down on why he’s always an attractive investment no matter your fancy. Joaquin Niemann (+200 for a Top 20) … Like Matsuyama, the Chilean is making his debut at The Renaissance Club. He’ll forever have the statement title at Riviera on his résumé, but the 23-year-old still is finding comfortable footing for the most discerning of onlookers. While it’s not a formula he should follow, it would be fun for fans (read: not gamers who wish not to sweat) to watch him put his imagination to work around these greens. He’s strong on approach, but his touch is a difference-maker. Lots of value here, gang. Billy Horschel (+200 for a Top 20) … You love to see it. Max Homa (+240 for a Top 20) … Lots of similarities in his approach to Horschel’s. So much positivity and energy directed into the right places. Oh, and lest we forget that Homa is navigating life with the Nappy Factor riding shotgun. Matt Kuchar … (+300 for a Top 20) … On ball flight alone, he’s worth a unit. The form has been improving for months, so that helps us nap while Scots are sleeping. And how about the fact that the 44-year-old leads the PGA TOUR in both scrambling and Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green! Aaron Rai (+275 for a Top 20) … I’m opening PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live as my outright. Read the Preview here. Haotong Li (+400 for a Top 20) … He has the belief again and he’s coming off his latest victory just two weeks ago in Germany. Also 1-for-3 at The Renaissance Club with a T14 in 2020. Keegan Bradley Corey Conners Brian Harman Sungjae Im Chris Kirk Justin Rose Cameron Young Odds sourced on Tuesday, July 6th at 5 p.m. ET. For live odds visit betmgm FADES Min Woo Lee … A cursory review of his performances on the DP World Tour compared to the PGA TOUR reflect a predictable regression. Sure, he’s only 23 years of age, but we’ve seen this before. It doesn’t help that he appeared in many of the strongest fields in the U.S., and that should elevate his game (in theory), but it’s also fair to wonder if it’s done any short-term damage to his confidence. He’s the defending champion but he presents as a trap without much to show for his efforts for months. Keith Mitchell … Whether it’s previous success, a comfort level or whatever energizing vibe that only he can feel, there are stops at which a guy can almost count of finding his game. The opposite of that is when a guy who’s playing well exits that zone in favor of the next off-speed pitch on a fastball count. He’s had an outstanding season with six top 10s and another four top 20s, including in his last three starts, but he’s yet to establish himself on linksy layouts like The Renaissance Club and St. Andrews (where he’s already exempt). So, the play here is as a contrarian based on form but consider only a fraction of a unit. Marc Leishman … The Aussie leans into the former of the comparison cited in Mitchell’s capsule above. Seaside tests like the two lined up in this fortnight should bring out the best in him and his legendary strength in wind, but the form upon touchdown is, eh, not so much. He’s also cashed in just one of the last three Opens (60th, 2018), proof that every superhero has his Kryptonite. Tyrrell Hatton … He’s gone 3-for-3 in the majors and placed T13 at THE PLAYERS, but the struggle is real of late. Use this week as a litmus test for the possibility of next week. Erik van Rooyen … Strong record at The Renaissance Club but just 1-for-6 and three unexplained early withdrawals since the Masters. Tom Hoge Si Woo Kim Jason Kokrak Ryan Palmer Gary Woodland RETURNING TO COMPETITION Tyler Duncan … Called it quits during his second round of the Deere due to a sore back. He’s clinging to a Playoffs spot at 121st in FedExCup points, so hopeful owners are counting on him to play out the string. That said, if it’s a serious injury, he has the insurance of fully exempt through next season via his win at The RSM Classic in the fall of 2019. Roger Sloan … He withdrew from the John Deere Classic after signing for an opening 81. An explanation wasn’t released. He’s now gone seven straight starts without a payday, and he’s cashed in only seven of 24 this season. At 176th in the FedExCup, he’s a virtual lock for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, so the pressure rests solely on not having to need that series to retain his card. Taylor Pendrith … If at first, second, third or fourth, you don’t succeed, try, try, try and try again. That’s been his narrative since sitting out since THE PLAYERS with a fractured rib. All set to return at the John Deere Classic, that was thwarted by a positive COVID-19 test. Still 110th in the FedExCup, though! It’s not how he expected a strong first half to matter, but it all counts towards the same ultimate objective. NOTABLE WDs – GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN Because of the flurry of moves in Scotland and in Kentucky, it’d be easiest to just direct you to my Twitter, but a few who are taking the week off deserve stand-alone treatment per usual here. Harold Varner III … His tournament debut remains on ice. The decision grants him his first break in four weeks. Currently 52nd in the FedExCup and poised for his third start at The Open Championship. Sahith Theegala … As noted in the latest edition of Qualifiers, he climbed to first alternate for The Open with a T16 at the John Deere Classic. Should he sneak in, he’ll be making his debut in the major. Boosted by a pair of recent top fives, the rookie is 36th in the FedExCup. Chez Reavie … Committed to and withdrew early from both of this week’s tournaments. It hasn’t been the noisiest season for the 40-year-old but he’s clawed his way to 95th in the FedExCup. A trio of top-15 finishes since May has all but solidified his card for 2022-23. Danny Lee … Would’ve been returning from a hip injury that knocked him off TPC River Highlands during the first round of the Travelers two weeks ago – his seventh mid-tournament WD since the 2020 U.S. Open. At 76th in the FedExCup, he can afford to wait as long as necessary to get back inside the ropes. The oft-injured PGA TOUR winner will turn 32 on July 24. Andrew Putnam … At 90th in FedExCup points and having played the last three weeks, this is a sensible time for a break. Assuming he returns next week, he’ll be lined up to take on Old Greenwood for next week’s Barracuda Championship where he finished solo second last year. Matthias Schwab … This is surprising given that he’s a member of both tours and opened 2022 with a pair of starts on the DP World Tour’s Desert Swing. However, at 105th in the FedExCup, the PGA TOUR rookie from Austria isn’t officially safe to qualify for the Playoffs, and he didn’t qualify for The Open, so the week off aligns with his economical approach that’s yielded only 18 TOUR starts juggling his schedules this season. The busiest of his class have made at least 23. Martin Laird … It’s impossible to know how many of the golfers committed to both tournaments actually had serious plans to travel to Scotland at the last minute if any gained entry as an alternate. However, given that he’s a native of the host country, it’s still mildly surprising that he opted against the possibility even after sliding in as 14th alternate. Perhaps if he was exempt for The Open Championship, but we’ll never know. As it stands, he’ll have the week off at 119th in the FedExCup. NOTABLE WDs – BARBASOL CHAMPIONSHIP J.T. Poston and Emiliano Grillo … The respective winner and co-runner-up at the John Deere Classic earned exemptions into next week’s Open Championship, so their schedules have changed. Brandt Snedeker … With only one top 45 among just four paydays in his last 14 starts, the 41-year-old finds himself 173rd in the FedExCup. He is not yet fully exempt through next season but at 22nd on the all-time money list and in little jeopardy of falling further than even one spot by the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship, he’s in position to burn a top-25 career earnings exemption for 2022-23. Certainly, that’s never a “goal,” but it’s a realistic scenario given the reality of today. Andrew Landry … The 34-year-old suffered a setback with his shoulder injury last week. He couldn’t finish his second round at TPC Deere Run as a result of ongoing discomfort. Impingements in both shoulders sidelined him for three months until he returned (and missed the cut) at the Travelers two weeks ago. Currently 156th in the FedExCup but fully exempt through next season. So, while the carrot of qualifying for the Playoffs was incentive to return sooner than later, ultimately it won’t cost him his job if he sits out for another extended period of time. Nick Hardy … Electing to rest for the first time in five weeks. Although he still has work to do at 135th in the FedExCup, it’s a well-earned respite given his red-hot pace of the last couple of months. RECAP – JOHN DEERE CLASSIC POWER RANKINGS Power Ranking Golfer Result 1 Webb Simpson MC 2 Adam Hadwin MC 3 Sahith Theegala T16 4 Lucas Glover MC 5 Denny McCarthy T6 6 Scott Stallings T4 7 Nick Hardy T30 8 J.T. Poston Win 9 Kevin Streelman T41 10 Maverick McNealy T8 11 John Huh MC 12 Nate Lashley MC 13 Adam Long T13 14 Christiaan Bezuidenhout T2 15 Adam Svensson T24 Wild Card Jason Day DNP SLEEPERS Golfer (Bet) Result Scott Brown (+450 for a Top 20) MC Kevin Chappell (+450 for a Top 20) MC Cam Davis (+190 for a Top 20) T8 Kelly Kraft (+500 for a Top 20) T24 Sam Ryder (+350 for a Top 20) T60 GOLFBET Bet: Hayden Buckley (Top 30) – +260 Result: T30 BIRTHDAYS AMONG ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE PGA TOUR July 5 … Chesson Hadley (35) July 6 … none July 7 … none July 8 … Kevin Chappell (36) July 9 … none July 10 … none July 11 … Sean O’Hair (40)

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JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Numbers were being circled on scorecards at every turn of the head during Friday’s second round of The Northern Trust, which only made the frustration level that much higher for a pair of heavyweights, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas. Neither could shift into drive at Liberty National Golf Club in the Playoffs opener. But at least DeChambeau, 1-under through 11 holes, had it in neutral. His playing competitor, Thomas couldn’t even do that. One day after opening with a sizzling 8-under 63, he was 3-over for his first eight holes. “I had no clubface control,” said Thomas, who missed the fairway with five of his first six drives, though give him credit, he was fair to fans on both sides of the course. “I started missing it left, missing it right.” Fortunately, Thomas had the luxury of a wonderful Thursday score to fuel his engines and offer comfort that things can change in a hurry with these lads. “I was patient. I still wasn’t forcing anything,” said Thomas. “I know I can make a lot of birdies, that it’s still early in the tournament.” Turning to play Liberty National’s front nine, fortunes changed in a hurry as DeChambeau played the last seven holes in 5-under to shoot 65, while Thomas played his last five in 5-under to get home in 69. Nowhere did the explosive finishes resonate more loudly than at the 612-yard, par-5 eighth hole when Thomas matched DeChambeau’s eagle in a sequence of shots that had them smiling and high-fiving one another. It was a more improbable eagle for DeChambeau, who drove it in rough right of the fairway and laid up to about 60 yards. The wedge was perfect, finding the bottom of the jar on the third hop. More conventional, but equally impressive was Thomas’ second shot from 286 yards that came to rest 12 feet from the hole. “I hit 5-wood. We didn’t think it had any chance of getting it up (onto the green). The play was just to try to hit it in that far right bunker,” said Thomas, who wasn’t about to chastise himself for being wrong. His 5-wood was enough club, and his eagle putt was pure, and the pleasantries were on. “We were just joking,” said Thomas, who had initiated a conversation up to the green with DeChambeau after the hole-out. Then came the matching eagle and even more smiles and more chatter. “After I made my putt, we looked at each other and said, ‘Good halve,’ ” laughed Thomas, who took note of the sprint in his playing competitor’s step. “He definitely had some fun the last two holes hitting driver.” Pushing to 10-under 132, Thomas was within two of Tony Finau’s clubhouse lead, while DeChambeau got to 6-under 132, which will be a half-dozen off the lead, but a vast improvement from where he had been a short while earlier. “I’ve always been pretty good at changing things on the fly, or at least making something work,” said Thomas. “Finally did on those last five or six holes.”

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