Matt Fitzpatrick dives deep into stats to get the most from his game

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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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The International Team may be the visitors at this week’s Presidents Cup, but the Charlotte community has made Trevor Immelman’s team feel at home. As a show of appreciation for that hospitality, the International Team has made a special donation to two Charlotte-area organizations. Immelman, his 12 players and four captain’s assistants are donating to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s K9 unit and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center, a Christ-centered non-profit that meets the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those affected by poverty, addiction and homelessness. “Our team has had such an amazing experience, not just this week but when we came here for our team trip a few weeks ago,” Immelman said. “We’ve met so many great people who have shown us amazing hospitality, so as a team we just wanted to find a way to give back and support the community that has taken us in and treated us so well over the last month or so.” The Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center was established in 2014 by Jim Noble, founder of the Noble Food and Pursuits Company. Immelman said he has been impressed with the tales of transformation at the Dream Center. “Jim Noble has told me some incredible stories, some touching stories about how they have impacted people in this community, supported them through times of struggle, whether mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually,” Immelman said. “They do some amazing work. This is just a small way to say thanks to the people of the Charlotte area.” The International Team’s donation to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department will be used to purchase safety equipment and training for the K9 unit’s human and canine officers. “They’ve done an incredible job not only for our team, but for all the fans who have been visiting, keeping us safe and making sure everything runs smoothly,” Immelman said about the CMPD. “Something our team has thoroughly enjoyed is the K9 unit and so we want to donate to them. I have two dogs at home. Many of our players have dogs, and it’s something that we were really excited about when we found out that this was a way we could help support them after all they’ve done for us.” Said Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings, “This donation will keep our four-legged officers equipped with the best technology and equipment as they work side-by-side with their human partners to serve this great community. I want to thank the International Team for its generous donation. The City of Charlotte and the CMPD have been blessed by the long-standing partnership with the PGA TOUR.” Noble also expressed his gratitude for the International Team’s donation. “Words cannot explain the gratitude we have for Trevor and the International Team for your heart for those in need in our community and greater Charlotte whose lives will be impacted with the love of God you are sharing through your generosity,” he said. Even after the International Team leaves Charlotte on Sunday, its impact will be felt for years to come.

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SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Tiger Woods has filed his entry to play in the U.S. Open for the first time since 2015. The USGA says Woods officially entered on Thursday, four days after he tied for 32nd in the Masters. Even exempt players have to formally enter the U.S. Open. Woods hasn’t played the U.S. Open since he missed the cut at Chambers Bay with rounds of 80-76. The U.S. Open is June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, where Woods made his U.S. Open debut in 1995 as the U.S. Amateur champion. He opened with a 74 and withdrew the next day with a wrist injury. He tied for 17th at Shinnecock in 2004 when he was in the midst of changing his swing. Woods is in the last year of a 10-year exemption from winning the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

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