"Weekend Fore-cast" prepares you for golf's major tours heading into the weekend. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights for RG. In this installment, Elliott looks at the action through two rounds at The Sony.
Patrick Fishburn and Denny McCarthy Tied For Lead at 10-under after 36 holes
What a weekend it's shaping up to be at the Sony Open. With the beautiful Waialae Country Club setting the scene, Patrick Fishburn and Denny McCarthy lead the pack after 36 holes, sitting at 10-under 130.
With back-to-back 5-under par 65s, Fishburn has done most of his damage on and around the greens, leading the field in Strokes Gained Putting, picking up a shade over 5 strokes with the flat stick. Although he is in the middle of the pack in greens hit in regulation, he is tied for first in scrambling, getting up and down on all 11 missed greens.
McCarthy, who opened on Thursday with a 6-under par 64, started his Friday round with a birdie but quickly followed that up with back-to-back bogeys. However, he rebounded well, making five birdies from that point and on into the house, finishing the day with a 66 and tying with Fishburn at the top. Renowned for his exceptional putting, McCarthy kept pace with Fishburn, making 120 feet of putts on the day, good enough for 8th in the field in that statistical category.
Kensei Hirata and Eric Cole One Stroke Back
Just behind the leaders are Kensei Hirata and Eric Cole, each sitting at 9-under par. Hirata, a rising star from Japan, showcased his talent on Friday by opening with four consecutive birdies, ultimately shooting a remarkable 7-under par 63. His journey from the challenges of Q-school to this moment of contention is truly inspirational and a story we love to celebrate on the PGA TOUR.
"My first time making the cut (on the PGA TOUR) so just looking forward to the weekend and having fun,” Hirata told the press after his round.
Alongside Hirata, Eric Cole also stands at 9-under par. He began the tournament with an impressive bogey-free 6-under par 64 on Thursday. However, Friday's round was a different story. Cole experienced a rollercoaster of a day, carding three bogeys and a double. His round started strong with back-to-back birdies, but a bogey on the third hole, followed by another on the sixth and a double on the seventh, saw him go out in 1-over par 36 on the front nine. Despite this shaky start, Cole fought back on the back nine, shooting a bounce-back 4-under par 31, which included three consecutive birdies on holes 16, 17, and 18.
Despite Tennis Elbow, TOUR Vet Zach Johnson in Contention Just Two Back
In an incredible display of perseverance, Zach Johnson finds himself in the thick of it despite battling a case of tennis elbow. It's impressive to see him competing at this level with an injury that would sideline many, putting up an 8-under 132 after two rounds. Johnson, a seasoned pro with a track record of overcoming challenges, shows that experience and grit can shine through adversity.
After his round, Johnson talked to the press about his battle with his elbow.
Moving Day Saturday, Who Will Make Moves?
Although sitting six shots behind the leaders, you can't count out Hideki Matsuyama, who won at Kapalua last week with an impressive 35-under par performance, setting the PGA TOUR's all-time mark in relation to par in a 72-hole event. Matsuyama shot a 69 on Friday to go with his opening round of 67 and sits at 4-under par through 36. He still remains in contention as he looks to become only the third player to sweep the Hawaii tournaments in the same year, an achievement last accomplished by Justin Thomas in 2017.
