Xander Schauffele leads Charles Schwab Challenge over host of stars

DUBLIN, Ohio – Jon Rahm’s storied history with the 16th hole at Muirfield Village continued Saturday morning as the defending Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide champion made a stunning ace to surge into the outright lead. The Spanish superstar slotted the ball home on the iconic par-3 with an 8-iron from 183 yards a year after he chipped in from greenside rough on Sunday only to be penalized two shots for being deemed to make his ball move prior to his swing. The penalty in 2020 ended up being inconsequential as he held on for victory over the final two holes although Saturday’s shot still felt like a bit of retribution for the five-time PGA TOUR winner. “I told Adam (caddy), I was walking down after I picked up the ball, I’m, like, well, that is some good karma and payback from last year,” Rahm joked. “It was just one of those good numbers. It helped to see Xander’s shot because I knew if I pulled the 8-iron it would be over the pin, so I just aimed between the pin and the edge of the bunker, hit a straight 8-iron and let the wind do the rest, and it went in. “I did not think any ball landing short of the pin would go in just because it’s coming in with such height from the elevated tee and the greens are soft. But hey, I think you can kind of see my face of surprise, right, early on, because I was pretty sure that ball was going to be past the hole about 15 feet.” Returning to finish the last five holes of his second round thanks to earlier weather delays Rahm had dropped a shot on the par-4 14th and failed to birdie the par-5 15th before the sensational shot. He backed up the ace with a birdie on the 17th and was within a whisker of another on 18 to shoot a 7-under 65 leaving him at 10-under and two shots clear of 2019 champion Patrick Cantlay at 8-under. Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa sit tied third at 6-under. “I wasn’t too happy to have to stop yesterday because I was 5-under through 13 playing unbelievable golf. I was feeling really, really solid. Had you given me a flashlight, I probably would have tried to finish yesterday,” Rahm added. “I’m leading the tournament after 36 so I’m in a good position. I’m comfortable. I’ve been looking forward to it, like I said earlier in the week. I’ve been doing a lot of backdoor top 10s and I’m happy I’m in contention for once.”

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Phil Mickelson increased his fall schedule in order to audition for one of Tiger Woods’ captain’s picks. Mickelson doesn’t expect to add Australia to his itinerary after poor finishes in his first two starts of the season, though. “Even if I were to win, I have not done enough to warrant a pick,� Mickelson said Wednesday in his pre-tournament press conference for THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. “I’m not asking for one. I don’t expect one. I think there’s a lot better options for the U.S. side.� RELATED: Meet the top 8: U.S. team | Three Presidents Cup vets start the fall on the outside looking in Mickelson, 49, has represented the United States in every team competition since the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994. That streak appears to be nearing its conclusion. Mickelson finished 16th in the United States’ points standings. The top eight after the BMW Championship earned automatic spots on the team. Mickelson is playing in South Korea for the first time since the United States’ win at the 2015 Presidents Cup, where he went 3-0-1. Mickelson has never competed on The Club at Nine Bridges, but he’s enjoyed what he’s seen. He played a practice round with Kevin Na to learn more about the course. “What I like is there is plenty of room off the tee for me to play,� Mickelson said. “(The greens) are huge but with a lot of undulation. … Iron play, which is my strength, is very important.� Mickelson is making his third start of the season. He missed the cut at the Safeway Open and finished 61st at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. His season debut was marred by a quadruple-bogey 9 on his fifth hole. He missed the cut by two after shooting a second-round 69. Mickelson opened the Shriners with a first-round 65, but was just 3 under in the remaining three rounds. He finished 47th in last season’s FedExCup, marking the fourth time in the last six seasons that he missed the TOUR Championship. It was his worst FedExCup showing since 2015. Mickelson started the calendar year with a first-round 60 at the Desert Classic. He finished second to Adam Long, then won two starts later at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Mickelson has had just one top-25 finish since, though. Mickelson, ever the optimist, still feels like he can play well in 2020. He turns 50 in June. “I am starting to play much better and I’m excited about this upcoming season,� he said.

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Greg Norman once said “Happiness is a long walk with a putter.” Bryson DeChambeau had to be especially ecstatic on the first hole of his Sunday singles match at Whistling Straits, then. He started his showdown with Sergio Garcia by adding another memorable tee shot to his Ryder Cup performance, driving the opening hole at Whistling Straits with a 354-yard blast. DeChambeau flexed his biceps for the crowd after he was introduced for the match, then held his long, arm-lock putter aloft as he walked off the tee. He then knocked in the 41-foot eagle putt to win the opening hole. There were some concerns that DeChambeau’s preparations for next week’s World Long Drive Championship would hamper his Ryder Cup performance. Images on social-media of DeChambeau’s calloused hands made some wonder if he was properly focused on the intercontinental competition with Europe. He revealed in his pre-tournament press conference that those images were taken before the FedExCup Playoffs, however. “Leading up into (the Ryder Cup), I’ve put full force focus into this event, and I think part of hitting it far is some of why I am so successful and how I could utilize my length on this golf course to potential advantage,” DeChambeau said. It has given him an advantage, indeed, and has sent a message that next week’s foray into long-drive competition is more than just a publicity stunt. DeChambeau made waves earlier this week when he hit a 417-yard blast in Friday’s Four-balls match that left him with just 72 yards to the hole on the serpentine, par-5 fifth hole. For comparison, his partner, Scottie Scheffler, had 274 yards remaining and World No. 1 Jon Rahm was left with a 253-yard second shot after a 336-yard drive. DeChambeau took advantage of the blast, wedging to 5 feet and making the eagle putt to tie the match. DeChambeau also nearly drove the 10th green and was greenside after his tee shot on the par-4 13th in that match. DeChambeau and Scheffler tied that match after Tyrrell Hatton birdied the last hole. After Sunday’s opening tee shot, DeChambeau’s driver is in a class with Ian Poulter’s putter as two of the most impressive clubs in Ryder Cup history.

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