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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 29 February 2020
Steele takes 1-shot lead at midpoint of The Honda Classic

By TIM REYNOLDS as demanding as we see,
AP Sports Writer so you've got to be ready
PALM BEACH GARDENS, from the get-go."
Fla. (AP) — Brendan Steele Woodland was tied for fifth
made a couple of big mis- at 3 under with Sepp Straka
takes down the stretch, (67), Cameron Davis (67)
and still was more than and Nick Watney (66).
good enough to grab the Donald got into the mix as
outright lead at the mid- well, looking for his first win
point of The Honda Classic. in the U.S. since 2012 and
Steele shot a 3-under 67 on the first anywhere since
Friday, getting to 5 under 2013.
for the week and putting Donald had the best round
himself a shot clear of J.T. of the day at 66, tied with a
Poston (69), Lee Westwood pair of South Korean play-
(69) and Luke Donald (66) ers — Byeong Hun An and
after the second round at Sungjae Im.
PGA National. "It's probably been a little
This is Steele's ninth time bit of a lean stretch," Don-
playing the Honda and the ald said. "But yeah, I feel
first time he's ended any like I've been making prog-
round at PGA National with ress in the last four months
the lead. He missed the cut with my swing and feeling
last year by 10 shots, but Brendan Steele hits from a bunker on the 16th hole during the second round of the Honda Classic more comfortable on the
most of what he's doing so golf tournament, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Associated Press golf course."
far this year has worked — Zach Johnson briefly got to
that is, until he made bo- by five shots. Fowler (68) shy of an ace, and he fol- me some confidence, and 5 under, then posted con-
gey on two of his last three missed an eagle putt at the lowed that up with another I definitely feel like harder is secutive bogeys — and hit
holes Friday. par-5 18th that would have birdie on the par-3 17th. usually better for me." real trouble on the par-4
"My first few years here I gotten him to the weekend Thing was, the 16th and Steele missed a chance 11th.
couldn't quite figure it out," and fell a shot shy, Rose 18th got him. for a victory in January in His second shot went into
Steele said. "I thought may- (74) was 6 over and missed A bogey on the par-4 16th Hawaii, falling to Cameron the water, ending up in
be it wasn't a good course by three shots, while Mitch- was the first miscue, and Smith in a playoff after tak- a muddy spot just at the
for me. ... I don't feel like it's ell (72) missed by five shots. then his approach sailed ing a three-stroke lead into edge of some long grass.
a course you can just jump "You can rack up some big over the green at the finish- the final round. Johnson elected to play his
out your first time and have numbers pretty quick," Ko- ing hole to lead to anoth- U.S. Open champion Gary third from there, trying to
it nailed. You have to see epka said. er dropped shot. Still, the Woodland put himself knock the ball skyward to-
it in all the different winds Steele had a chance to three-time winner on tour squarely in the mix with a 67 ward the green — but only
and conditions that you take an even bigger lead — the last of those com- and thinks there's a simple managing to bury it fur-
have." into the weekend. ing when he went back-to- reason why tough courses ther into the mud. Johnson
The cut was 3 over, and The famed Bear Trap, PGA back at the Safeway Open like PGA National appeal had to retreat about 125
most of the biggest names National's stretch of holes in 2018 — left more than to him. yards back up the fairway,
in the field aren't sticking 15-17, has never been satisfied. "I think it's definitely mental," played another approach
around for the weekend. overly kind to Steele — who "I think a course like this al- Woodland said. "I prob- and two-putted from 45
Among them: Brooks Ko- was 26 over on those three ways suits me a little bit bet- ably focus a little bit more. feet for a triple-bogey 7.
epka, Rickie Fowler, Jus- holes in 31 rounds on that ter," Steele said. "I feel like You've got to hit shots out Just like that, he went from
tin Rose and defending triumvirate before Friday. I can make birdies on this here. You've got to work tied for sixth and one shot
champion Keith Mitchell. But his tee ball on the par-3 course maybe more than the golf ball both ways. back to tied for 23rd and
Koepka shot a 4-over 74 15th went around the back other guys can, and I don't You've got to ride the four shots off the lead. He
for the second consecutive of the hole before lipping necessarily feel that way a wind. I love playing in the finished with a 75, going to
day and missed the cut out and stopping inches lot of weeks. ... That gives wind. But this golf course is 2 over for the week.q

LPGA's Lindberg misses cut in men's NZ Open

QUEENSTOWN, New Zea- beating four. The 11-year vorite country," Lindberg
land (AP) — LPGA major LPGA Tour veteran, who said. "I couldn't say no.
winner Pernilla Lindberg of won the ANA Inspiration in Any chance to tee it up
Sweden has missed the cut 2018, played the tourna- at these beautiful courses I
at the New Zealand Golf ment on a sponsor's invita- could not say no."
Open after becoming the tion, teaming in the pro-am The first two rounds of the
first woman to play in the format with New Zealand tournament are played
101-year-old men's profes- rugby star Beauden Barrett. over two courses, The Hills
sional tournament. She was married in Queen- and the Millbrook Resort
Lindberg shot 1-over 73 Fri- stown a year ago and was with the last two rounds at
day to follow her first round holidaying with her hus- Millbrook.
9-over par 80, finishing in a band in the South Island Korean teenager Joo-
tie for 151st in the 156-strong resort to celebrate their first hyung Kim retained a one
Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg prepares to play during the opening field. While she missed the anniversary when she was shot tournament lead at
round of the New Zealand Golf Open in Queenstown, New cut, she surpassed her goal invited to compete. 11-under par, following his
Zealand, Thursday, Feb. 2Y, 2020. for the tournament — to "I was going to be here first round 64 with a 5-under
Associated Press "beat just one man" — by anyway and it is my fa- 67 on Friday.q