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Saturday 17 auguSt 2019
Matsuyama blisters Medinah with 63 for BMW Championship lead

By DOUG FERGUSON bogey, and key to his on the 11th, and then ran
MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) — Hide- round was avoid one late. off birdies on the 14th and
ki Matsuyama has never His tee shot on the 320-yard 15th hole to slowly get back
missed the Tour Champion- 15th caught enough of the into the picture at Medi-
ship since his first full year on wind that bounded right nah. And then he made
the PGA Tour. He played into the water. He took his consecutive bogeys from
Friday like he doesn't want penalty dropped, chipped the bunker, had to settle for
the streak to end. to 8 feet and saved par, another 71 and was right
Outside the top 30 in the got up-and-down on the back where he started.
FedEx Cup for the first time next hole and then finished "I'm going to have to have a
at the BMW Championship, with two more good putts, great weekend and make
Matsuyama made five one for birdie and another a lot of birdies and post
birdie putts from 15 feet for par. some rounds in the mid-60s
or longer and broke the "Any time you make a par to give myself a chance at
course record at Medinah after hitting the ball in the it," Woods said. "Putt well
with a 9-under 63 for a one- water it's good," he said. "It and I'll shoot good scores. I
shot lead going into the gave me some nice mo- haven't done that."
weekend. mentum to close out the Jordan Spieth also is on the
He started his second round round." verge of ending a second
with a 30-foot birdie putt. Lucas Glover (69) and Rory straight season without a
He ended the round with a Sabbatini (68) were among victory, and without a trip
30-foot birdie putt. the group at 9-under 135, to East Lake. He made
The explanation for what both suddenly in range of progress at Liberty National
went right wasn't that long. the top 30. with a tie for sixth, and he
"I did make a lot of long Woods won the Tour Cham- needs another finish like
putts today, and that pionship last year, capping that to crack the top 30.
was the difference," Mat- a remarkable return from He did not need to chop
suyama said through his in- Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, hits out of the bunker on the ninth four back surgeries with his his way to a double bogey
terpreter. hole during the BMW Championship golf tournament in Medi- first victory in five years. It on the par-3 eighth that left
That was a big difference nah, Ill., Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. was an extraordinary af- him at the bottom of the
for Tiger Woods, too. He Associated Press ternoon considering where back. Spieth rallied with
made only two putts longer he had been, a moment five birdies on the back
than 6 feet, made a pair of Cantlay, Finau and Thom- after the U.S. Open.But he topped in Georgia some six nine, and he believes he
bogeys from the bunkers as are all assured of being has gone two years without months later when he won has the "firepower" to post
late in the round and had among the top 30 who ad- winning, and Friday was the Masters. two low scores and hope
to settle for another 71. vance to the Tour Cham- the first time he has led af- But after he pulled out at it's enough.
Woods, who needs a top pionship next week, where ter any round since his most Liberty National last week There was a realistic side to
10 to advance to the Tour everyone in the field will recent victory at Firestone citing a mild oblique strain, him Friday, especially after
Championship, was tied for have a shot at winning the in the Bridgestone Invita- he slipped 10 spots to No. the double bogey, that his
49th. FedEx Cup and the $15 mil- tional. 38. And while it was a mild season was over because
"I left quite a few shots out lion prize. "It's been a long time since surprise when he showed of how he felt over the ball.
there," Woods said. Matsuyama won four times I've been in contention," up at Medinah, he's going Yes, he still has an outside
Matsuyama was at 12-un- on the Japan Golf Tour as Matsuyama said. "Hopeful- the wrong direction in the chance. But he sure didn't
der 132, one shot ahead a rookie after he graduat- ly, I can play well. I've been FedEx Cup. sound consumed by it.
of Patrick Cantlay (67) ed college, and then won struggling for a while this He isn't ruling out a return "I'm far enough out that I'm
and Tony Finau (66). Justin the Memorial in 2014 and year. Hopefully, that can to the Tour Championship going to sleep at night not
Thomas made six birdies to narrowly got into the FedEx turn around and I'll have a to defend his title, but he's expecting to be there," Spi-
offset three bogeys in his Cup finale at East Lake. He good weekend." running out of time and not eth said about East Lake.
round of 69, leaving him was as high as No. 2 in the Cantlay has gone 36 holes making enough birdies. "It's not where I want to live,
two shots behind. world just two years ago at Medinah with only one Woods hit it to tap-in range but it's where I am."q
Jimenez, Barron share PGA Tour Champions lead

ENDICOTT, N.Y. (AP) — Jimenez said. "That's what said. "Just like it reminds me McCarron and Senior Play- back at En Joie for the first
Miguel Angel Jimenez bird- you need to do, hit fairways, of the two courses I grew ers Championship winner time in 24 years. He won
ied three of the final six hit greens and hit it close. I up playing at home. So, I've Retief Goosen. Langer the B.C. Open in 1991 when
holes Friday for a 7-under made the putts. Happy with always played good here, won at En Joie in 2014. it was a PGA Tour event."I
65 and a share of the first- the way I've been man- I've had some good finishes "You've got to drive it just didn't make enough
round lead with Monday aging myself on the golf here." straight here," Langer said. birdies, but I felt OK," Cou-
qualifier Doug Barron in the course." The 50-year-old Marco Dawson and Scott "It's tree-lined, rough and ples said. "I have to play a
PGA Tour Champions' Dick's Barron had seven birdies in Parel were a stroke back trees everywhere, so you've lot more and practice a lot
Sporting Goods Open. a bogey-free round. He's at 66. Kevin Sutherland was got to drive it really good, harder to work my way up
Jimenez had eight birdies coming off a fifth-place tie another stroke back with hit some good irons and, these leaderboards again.
and a bogey at En Joie in the Senior British Open in David McKenzie and Billy hopefully, sink some putts. I have not really played
Golf Club. The 55-year-old his Champions debut. "I've Andrade. Kevin Sutherland That's what it takes." well this whole year, but it's
Spaniard won the Chubb been around this course 32 shot a 59 in the tournament McCarron, the winner two fun to be here."
Classic in February in Florida times in tournament rounds five years ago. years ago, had a 69. Goos- John Daly had a 71.
for his seventh senior title. and played however many Senior British Open winner en shot 72. Davis Love III Defending champion Bart
"It was very nice. I played practice rounds here when Bernhard Langer shot a 68, and Jay Haas shot 68, while Bryant opened with a
very solid. I felt very com- I was on tour, so I like the playing alongside Charles playing partner Fred Cou- 72. He also won the 2013
fortable on the golf course," place. It fits my eye," Barron Schwab Cup leader Scott ples had a 70. Couples is event.q