SEPP STRAKA
Straka leads Olympic golf on day of low scoring, surprises
(AP Photo/Matt York) (Matt York)KAWAGOE, Japan — (AP) — Rikuya Hoshino did not have the first tee to himself Thursday for the start of Olympic golf. The other two players with him in the first group, Sepp Straka of Austria and Thomas Pieters of Belgium, took it from there. Straka picked a good day to be dialed in with his irons in soft and still conditions. But besides that, it wasn't too bad.”His biggest issue was a delay of just over two hours from thunderstorms. British Open champion Collin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy each had a 69, which was only good for a tie for 20th on such a low scoring day.
wftv.comChris Kirk, Webb Simpson share Rocket Mortgage Classic lead
Chris Kirk drives on the 15th tee during the second round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Friday, July 3, 2020, at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT – Webb Simpson and Bryson DeChambeau were expected to be contenders at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, taking advantage of a relatively weak field and course by PGA Tour standards. And, now he’s out here trying to win a PGA Tour event." Simpson won the RBC Heritage two weeks ago in South Carolina, finishing at a tournament-record 22-under for his second win of the season and seventh of his career. None of the top five players is at the Detroit Golf Club and the field includes just 18 of the top 50.
Steele takes 1-shot lead at midpoint of The Honda Classic
Steele shot a 3-under 67 on Friday, getting to 5 under for the week and putting himself a shot clear of J.T. This is Steele’s ninth time playing the Honda and the first time he’s ended any round at PGA National with the lead. I don't feel like it's a course you can just jump out your first time and have it nailed. ... Michael Thompson’s record streak of Honda rounds without a ball in the water on the Bear Trap is over. Thompson put his tee ball on the par-3 15th in the water, his first such mistake in 30 Honda rounds at PGA National.