"Weekend Fore-cast" prepares you for golf's major tours heading into the weekend. In this installment, PGA professional and RG Lead Golf Writer Brendon Elliott, looks at the action at Arnie’s Place, the Puerto Rico Open, and the Blue Bay LPGA.
Lowry Embraces Bay Hill Challenge, Takes Two-Shot Lead
Shane Lowry is proving once again that he thrives when golf courses bare their teeth. The Irishman posted a stellar 5-under 67 on Friday at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, building a two-shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.
Lowry, who sits at 8-under 136 through 36 holes, is the only player in the field to break 70 in both rounds. His iron play has been particularly sharp, allowing him to navigate the demanding layout with the perfect blend of aggression and restraint.
"I think my iron play is good, and conservative when it needs to be," Lowry explained.
"I just like the grind of 'pars are good,' you know? There's a lot of weeks out here where you shoot level par for nine holes, and you feel like you're beating your head against the wall. Whereas weeks like this, level par after nine, you're actually doing OK."
Clark, Conners, Morikawa Give Chase
Wyndham Clark sits alone in second place at 6-under despite a dramatic double-bogey on the 15th hole after driving out-of-bounds. The reigning U.S. Open champion salvaged the hole with a clutch 20-foot putt that limited the damage.
Corey Conners (70) and Collin Morikawa (68) are lurking just three shots back at 5-under, while Rory McIlroy posted a second-round 70 to sit four behind his playing partner and good friend Lowry.
Day's Resurgence Continues
Perhaps the day's most impressive round came from Jason Day, who fired a tournament-low 64 to vault into contention. The Australian, who has reunited with longtime coach Colin Swatton, now sits just four shots off the lead heading into the weekend.
Defending Champion Scheffler Hangs Around
Scottie Scheffler overcame a rough start, including a double-bogey on the par-3 second hole after missing a 30-inch putt. The world No. 1 steadied himself with a bogey-free back nine, finishing with a 72 to remain within striking distance at 1-under, seven shots behind Lowry.
Cut Drama
The cut fell at 4-over 148, with several players making dramatic late charges to secure weekend tee times. Lucas Glover holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 16th and chipped in from just off the green at the 17th to make the cut on the number. Max McGreevy was even more impressive, going birdie-birdie-par-par over his final four holes with clutch putts to survive.
Danish Debutant Dominates in Puerto Rico
While the game's elite battle at Bay Hill, an impressive PGA TOUR debut is unfolding at the Puerto Rico Open. Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, playing on a commissioner's exemption, has been flawless through 36 holes at Grand Reserve Golf Club.
The 25-year-old DP World Tour regular followed his opening 64 with a bogey-free 65 on Friday, building a one-shot lead at 15-under 129. Even more remarkably, Neergaard-Petersen has yet to make a bogey in his TOUR debut.
Davis Riley sits one shot back after a 66 that included four consecutive birdies on his back nine. Austin Cook (65) is alone in third at 13-under, while William Mouw, Noah Goodwin, and Karl Vilips share fourth place at 12-under. Fun-loving Harry Higgs sits in a six-player log jam four back at 11-under.
First-round leader Kevin Roy stumbled to a 73 on Friday, dropping well off the pace after opening with a sizzling 62.
Porter Makes Splash at Blue Bay LPGA
Cassie Porter is making the most of her opportunity at the Blue Bay LPGA in China. The Epson Tour winner has climbed into a share of the lead through 36 holes at 7-under par 137, showcasing the talent that has many predicting big things for the young Australian.
Porter, who earned her LPGA Tour card through the Epson Tour last season, has displayed remarkable control of the flatstick so far this week, taking only 50 total putts through two rounds. Her putting prowess has positioned her perfectly heading into the weekend as she seeks her first LPGA Tour victory.
Tied with Porter is the 35th-ranked player in the world, Japanese star Nasa Hataoka, a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour. Hataoka was almost as impressive on the greens as Porter, needing only 52 total putts through her first 36.
Sitting a shot back of Porter and Hataoka is Rio Takeda from Japan. Her back-to-back rounds of 3-under par 69 have her sitting pretty to make a run over the weekend. Mexico's Gaby Lopez and American Auston Kim are tied for fourth at 5-under par 139.
The Blue Bay LPGA represents a significant opportunity for players like Porter, who are looking to establish themselves among the elite women's golfers in the world. With two rounds remaining, Porter has put herself in prime position to capitalize on her strong start and potentially secure a breakthrough win that could define her young career.
