Reed moves clear as Woods surges in Bahamas

CROMWELL, Conn. – If you’re thinking that 22-year-old Collin Morikawa – just three weeks into his pro career – looked comfortable sauntering along TPC River Highlands during the second round of the Travelers Championship, there’s a simple reason. “I was comfortable from the start,� said the University of California standout. “This is what I’ve wanted to do the entire time since I’ve been a little kid.� Now that he’s arrived, he looks prepared to take advantage of his opportunities. Having finished T-14 at the RBC Canadian Open and T-35 in the U.S. Open to start the professional chapter of his career, Morikawa maintained positive movement on Friday with a 3-under 67 at the Travelers to reach 7-under 133. As he signed his card, Morikawa knew he was four off Zack Sucher’s clubhouse lead, but the bigger takeaway was the opportunity to play on the weekend for a third consecutive week. “Just coming out here and living my dream,� he smiled. He wasn’t alone with that sentiment, because his collegiate friends, who also received sponsor’s exemptions, also seemed to be comfortable inside the TPC River Highlands ropes. Matt Wolff, 20, despite late turbulence, shot 68 to get halfway home in 2-under 138, which gives him a good chance to get into the weekend. Meanwhile, Wolff’s OSU teammate, Viktor Hovland, was in the afternoon wave and pushing to make the cut in his pro debut. Justin Suh of USC, playing as a pro for the second time, made just one birdie and shot 73-73 to miss the cut. “I made a lot of nice up-and-downs,� said Wolff, who started the day at level par, shot 3-under on the back, then got to 5-under with birdies at the second and sixth before he stumbled home with a bogey at the par-4 seventh and double at the par-4 ninth. The closing double left a bad taste in his mouth (Wolff drove out-of-bounds right), but the recent winner of the NCAA Championship from Oklahoma State said he was thankful for the chance to make the cut and get in two more rounds of competitive golf against the world’s best. Pleased as he was to survive the cut, Wolff knew he’d be well off the lead and not be in position to speak the way Morikawa could. “I’m out here to win,� said Morikawa, who has shot in the 60s six times in 10 rounds as a professional. He’s made just one bogey each day, but pointing to his miscues, Morikawa knows he’s played par-5s in level par and he needs to improve in that category. On the positive side of the ledger, he’s hit 11 of 14 fairways each day and 25 of 36 greens through two rounds. Morikawa has a firm grasp of the way this PGA TOUR business works. “I’m just trying to make as many birdies as I can out here.� With nine, he’s got that covered.

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KAPALUA, Hawaii – U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka remains baffled by a left wrist injury that is leaving him in serious pain and affecting his game. Speaking after finishing up a disappointing tilt at the Sentry Tournament of Champions where rounds of 78-74-78-75 left him 13-over and a distant last in the 34-man field Koepka admitted the injury is frustrating to say the least. He first noticed the problem during the Hero World Challenge in December and has not been able to get a definitive diagnosis. Koepka revealed he has done some tests to try to put a finger on the issue but as yet is still clueless. “It feels like someone is jabbing a knife in my hand,� Koepka said. “We are still in the process of trying to figure out what it is nobody can come up with an answer right now. I just know it hurts. It is still attached, so that’s a good thing.� The two-time PGA TOUR champion says the pain is felt throughout his entire swing, not just at impact. “It’s not fun but I’m not going to quit. I have no idea how I hurt it, I wish I knew what it was, but the problem is we don’t have any answers,� he continued. “If we at least get an answer we can at least address the issue and go from there.� Koepka will rest the injury for a few weeks before he is currently scheduled to play at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

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The 117th U.S. Open Championship is being contested in Wisconsin at Erin Hills Golf Course for the first time. Here’s where you can follow all the action. Round 2 tee times Round 2 U.S. Open leaderboard Watch: FOX Sports 1 (11 a.m.-6 p.m. ET), FOX (6-9 p.m.) Listen: SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio and FOX Sports on SiriusXM (noon-8 p.m. ET) Groups to watch Marc Leishman, Pat Perez, Si Woo Kim Tee time: 8:29 a.m. on Friday off No. 10 Brad Dalke (a), Wesley Bryan, Brendan Steele Tee time: 8:29 a.m. on Friday off No. 1 Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia Tee time: 8:51 a.m. on Friday off No. 10 Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, Paul Casey Tee time: 9:13 a.m. on Friday off No. 10 Jason Day, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy Tee time: 9:24 a.m. on Friday off No. 10 Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm Tee time: 2:36 p.m. on Friday off No. 1 Kevin Kisner, Billy Horschel, Branden Grace Tee time: 3:09 p.m. on Friday off No. 10 Martin Kaymer, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson Tee time: 3:20 p.m. on Friday off No. 1

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