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SPORTS Saturday 18 January 2020
Rickie Fowler, Scottie Scheffler tied for lead in desert

By JOHN NICHOLSON he had the lowest 36-hole
AP Sports Writer score of his PGA Tour ca-
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — reer. Playing in the same
Rickie Fowler came to third of the field as Fowler in
The American Express for the pro-am event, Scheffler
the first time in six years to also opened with rounds of
prepare for the next two 65 and 64. He birdied the
weeks at Torrey Pines and first four holes and six of
TPC Scottsdale. the first seven Friday, then
He's ahead of schedule, rebounded from a double
shooting an 8-under 64 bogey on the par-4 18th
on Friday at PGA West's with an eagle and two
Jack Nicklaus Tournament birdies in his second nine.
Course for a share of the "Wish the double wasn't in
second-round lead with there, but it was still a very
Scottie Scheffler. good score," Scheffler said.
In position to make the trip "I feel like I've been play-
over the hill to San Diego ing pretty well, just doing
and Torrey Pines with his a good job managing my
sixth PGA Tour title and first game, giving myself a lot
since Phoenix a year ago, of looks. I got off to a pretty
Fowler set up shop last hot start today and kept
week at the nearby Madi- playing pretty solid, even Rickie Fowler hits from the 12th tee during the second round of The American Express golf
son Club after tying for fifth after that double on 18, just tournament on the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in La Quinta,
at Kapalua in the Sentry staying in a good place Calif.
Tournament of Champions. mentally and was able to Associated Press
"It was nice to get a little hit some good shots."
work in, get some good The 23-year-old former Uni-
practice and play out here versity of Texas star is in his
in the desert to get used first season on the PGA Tour
to being back in the des- after winning twice and
ert," said Fowler, who grew topping the Korn Ferry Tour
up about an hour away Finals and overall points
in Murrieta. "It's been very lists. Fowler and Scheffler
beneficial. I looked at that will play PGA West's Stadi-
as something that was go- um Course — also the site
ing to be the best oppor- of the final round — on Sat-
tunity for me to go into this urday.
West Coast swing to get Tournament host Phil Mick-
the game where I want to elson needed a low round
and to play well." Saturday at the Stadium
He opened with a 65 on Course to make the cut af-
Thursday at La Quinta ter rounds of 70 and 72 in
Country Club. "These cours- his first start of the year.
es are scorable, but I feel Andrew Landry was a
like it's a fine line between stroke out of the lead after
playing well out here and a 64 at La Quinta.
kind of scraping by," Fowler Tony Finau, at No. 15 in
said. "If you drive it well and the world the top-ranked
hit good approach shots, player in the field, made
you can make a lot of bird- a big move with a 62 on
ies, but if you're a little off the Nicklaus layout. Play-
you're kind of scrambling ing alongside Mickelson,
for par. I feel like I've done Finau was two strokes back
a good job of just kind of at 13 under after the best
picking my way around the round of the first two days.
two golf courses so far." He played his finakl nine in
He played his final nine 7-under 29.
in 6-under 30, making a "The putter got hot for me
6-foot eagle putt on the on that back nine," Finau
par-5 fourth, four birdies said. "I hit it really nicely
and two big par saves on yesterday. I didn't feel like
Nos. 6 and 7. I got what I wanted out of
"It's always nice when you the round and I wanted to
don't give shots back, es- change that today. I hit it
pecially in a tournament well again and I was able
like this where typically to make some putts and
the scores are going to be just get some momentum."
on the lower side," Fowler Defending champion
said. "Bogey almost feels Adam Long was 5 under
like you're giving two shots after a 70 on the Nicklaus
back." At 15-under 129, Course.q