Page 18 - aruba-today-20170204

A18 SPORTS
Saturday 4 February 2017

Brendan Steele, Byeong Hun An share Phoenix Open lead

JOHN NICHOLSON eighth — his 17th hole. Be- 18-footer on the short par-4
AP Sports Writer hind a small tree nearly 200 17th and a 15-footer on 18.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) yards from the green, Lefty “I played well the last few
— Brendan Steele and attempted to hit a sweep- weeks,” said Steele, the
Byeong Hun An led the ing slice with a driver, but winner of the season-open-
way at golf’s biggest party, the line drive didn’t cut as ing Safeway Open. “Ob-
Phil Mickelson had a classic much as he wanted and viously, the win a couple
Lefty adventure, and Justin rocketed through the large months ago, and then I’ve
Thomas cooled off in the gallery lining the right side. got good results on this
desert. “I didn’t really have much,” course before. Everything
An ran in a 35-foot birdie Mickelson said. “I was try- feels pretty good.”
putt on the par-4 18th Fri- ing to get something that Defending champion Hide-
day for a 5-under 66 and would cut it. It was sitting ki Matsuyama was a stroke
a share of the Waste Man- in the rough. The only play back at 9 under along
agement Phoenix Open was to pitch out, but that’s with first-round leader Matt
lead. Steele had a 67 to not really, you know, what I Kuchar, Martin Laird and
match An at 10-under 132 like to do.” Sung Kang.
at TPC Scottsdale. On the par-4 ninth, he took Byeong Hun An, of Korea, walks off the 16th green during the Matsuyama bogeyed the
second round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament, Friday, Feb.
Mickelson bogeyed the fi- two shots to escape the 3, 2017, in Scottsdale, Ariz. 18th for a 68 after his 132-
nal two holes for a 70 that right greenside bunker. Associated Press yard shot to the back right
left him six strokes back, “It sucks, finishing with two pin fell short into a small
while playing partner bogeys,” Mickelson said. on 18 for his third birdie in 169,004, breaking the Fri- bunker.
Thomas had a 73 to miss The 46-year-old former Ari- four holes. day record of 160,415 set “I thought I could go for
the cut by a stroke. Thom- zona State player won the “I look forward to playing last year and pushing the the pin and came up a lit-
as was coming off a two- event in 1996, 2005 and those holes, 16, 17, 18 — five-day total to 391,874. tle short,” Matsuyama said
week break after sweeping 2013. He’s making his third great finishing holes,” the Saturday is the biggest day through a translator. “Little
the Hawaii events — and start in his return from two South Korean player said. “I for spectators, with a re- disappointing, but I played
shooting 59 at Waialae — sports hernia surgeries. love people making noise. cord 201,003 packing the well all day.”
for his second and third vic- “There’s no reason why I I really don’t mind, as long massive grounds last year. Last year, Matsuyama beat
tories of the season. couldn’t get it going tomor- as they don’t make sudden The week mark of 618,365 Rickie Fowler in a playoff.
Mickelson tried to pull off a row and be in it,” Mickelson noise.” There were a lot of was set a year ago. The Japanese star won four
low-percentage shot from said. An had a far better people to make noise. The Steele also birdied three times worldwide late last
the left rough on the par-4 finish, holing the long putt crowd was estimated at of the last four, holing an year.q