Zurich Classic, Rd. 2
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| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | ||
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By PGATOUR.COM Staff
SECOND ROUND WRAPPING UP (6:50 p.m.): We're nearing the conclusion of the second round of the Zurich Classic and it's looking like Jerry Kelly's lead of 10 under is going to hold up. There are still some players on the course with a chance of catching him -- Aaron Watkins is 5 under on the day through 14 holes and 7 under for the week -- but as expected, the scoring in the afternoon has been much tougher. The wind isn't quite as strong as originally forecasted, but it's still blowing in some spots and that's made it difficult to make up any ground. -- Brian Wacker
FROM QUALIFIER TO CONTENDER (6:10 p.m.): Kevin Stadler made the field this week by Monday qualifying, shooting a 66 at The Bridges Golf Club in Bay St. Louis, Miss., which is about 50 miles east of New Orleans. So far, Stadler has taken advantage of the opportunity, shooting a 67 today to get to 7 under after two rounds and within three of the lead.
Ironically enough, Stadler would have been the final man in the field had he not been successful on Monday. On the list of alternates, Stadler would have been added to replace Notah Begay, who withdrew on Wednesday. Instead, Tag Ridings was the one to replace Begay in the field. -- Mark Williams
KELLY IN THE LEAD (5:46 p.m.): Jerry Kelly has held or shared the 36-hole lead three times in his career. He did not go on to win any of those events, however. In the first win of his career, at the 2002 Sony Open in Hawaii, Kelly led after the first and third rounds before eventually winning by one. Later that year, he won the Advil Western Open by coming from behind with a final-round 65. -- Brian Wacker
| Jerry Kelly when leading or sharing the lead after 36 holes | ||||||||||||
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TOMS AT HOME IN LOUISIANA (5:30 p.m.): This is David Toms' 16th career start at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, but just his third start at TPC Louisiana (results below). His 8-under 136 start is one stroke off a personal best in the tournament -- he shot 69-66 at English Turn in 2004.
When Toms won this event in 2001, he opened 66-73, rallying with rounds of 63-64 on the weekend to finish at 22 under, two shots clear of Phil Mickelson. -- Mark Williams
| Toms at TPC Louisiana | ||||||||||||
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LEADERBOARD UPDATE (5:07 p.m.): As expected, there hasn't been a whole lot of movement atop the leaderboard in the afternoon at the Zurich Classic, where the wind has picked up quite a bit and the course toughened. As a result, Jerry Kelly's 10 under is holding up at the moment.
There are, however, a few players trying to change that. Charles Howell continues to play well at 4 under for the day, though his birdie pace has slowed. John Rollins is also at 4 under after a couple of back-to-back birdie stretches in his round today. Ditto Rory Sabbatini, who is within four of the lead. -- Brian Wacker
BIRDIE ALERT (4:38 p.m.): Charles Howell III is throwing caution to the wind -- literally. After playing his first six holes today in 1 over, Howell has turned on the birdie machine, making five in a row, beginning at No. 7, where he chipped to 3 feet from behind the green to set up an easy putt.
Three of the next four birdies for Howell all came within 8 feet, with his 12-footer on the par-5 11th the lone exception. As a result, Howell has moved to 8 under for the week and within two of the lead. -- Brian Wacker
FROM THE INTERVIEW ROOM (4:20 p.m.): Ian Poulter is one of the more colorful characters on the PGA TOUR -- both literally and figuratively. Here are some highlights from his post-round press conference today. Poulter shot 66 and is 7 under through two rounds.
Q. European Tour player, runner up at Open Championship. You know how to play wind. Do you like playing in the wind?
IAN POULTER: I do. I love it. I said to Terry out on the golf course today, it's been turning linksy. That's how it feels. Tight lies and the greens getting firm. So I'm happy to be out there playing golf.
Q. Around the greens, your work is great. You said linksy, a little linksy around the green?
IAN POULTER: A little linksy. The lies are getting pretty tight. You know, I said to the guys, I'm enjoying chipping right now because I can put a little bit of spin on the ball. Certainly when you pick up some of the grain and down grain, and play certain chips according to whether the grain is going to be into or downward wherever the ball is going to land. I managed to chip really well.
Q. You like fun. Tell people about the fun in New Orleans?
IAN POULTER: It's pretty fun. I've had room service last night.
Q. Boring.
IAN POULTER: Boring. Let me tell you, I am boring right now. I mean, I've got a six-week old. And to be honest, I had 11 hours sleep the first day I got here. I was in bed by 8 p.m. last night. I'm not having no fun downtown. I wish I was, because it's Jazz Fest right now, and I could hear some noise out there last night. It would have been nice to go out there and have a couple of drinks. Maybe Sunday night.
If Poulter gets his first career PGA TOUR victory on Sunday, you can bet a celebratory drink would be in order and there's arguably no better place to have one than New Orleans. -- Brian Wacker
THE TIGER WOODS OF NEW ORLEANS? (3:55 p.m.): The best -- or funniest -- question asked during David Toms' post-round press conference today? "Are you the Tiger Woods of New Orleans?"
"We'll see," Toms said, laughing. "Maybe one day when he shows up at this tournament we'll see what it's like. It will be a zoo whenever he does play here. I just try to do my part, support the event, and hopefully play well and get some people out here tomorrow."
Woods will be playing next week at the Quail Hollow Championship, an announcement he made earlier today, but Toms will undoubtedly own the galleries this weekend. The LSU alum and native of Louisianan will hear lots of chants of "LSU!" and have a large gallery following him and that has Toms excited, especially considering he's at 8 under after back-to-back 68s.
"It feels good to be healthy again," said Toms, who sat out last year's event because of injury. "If I can keep it up on the weekend, get some more people out here and get them behind me, I'll have a chance." -- Brian Wacker
CUT CHECK (3:35 p.m.): We're about two-thirds through the second round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and as of now the cut line is sitting at 1 under. With the wind picking up this afternoon, it probably won't go any lower than that and may even move to even.
As of now, however, there are some notable players on the outside looking in, including Mike Weir (1 over), Jason Gore (3 over), Bubba Watson (3 over, through nine holes today) and Nick Watney (3 over, through six holes). -- Brian Wacker
DEFENDING CHAMPION DISQUALIFIED (3:25 p.m.): Andres Romero was headed home for the weekend anyway after shooting rounds of 73-75, but he was sent packing a little earlier than the completion of today's round after signing an incorrect scorecard. Romero made a bogey-6 on the 18th hole -- his ninth hole of the day -- but he signed for a 5, which was obviously incorrect.
That means we'll have to wait another year for someone to successfully defend at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The last player do that was Carlos Franco in 1999-2000. -- Brian Wacker
MATTESON'S MAGICAL ROUND (3:06 p.m.): Troy Matteson's 8-under 64 was so good that it prompted him to say, "I hadn't had that many birdies and eagles all year if you add it all together."
That's not entirely true, but it probably felt like it since Matteson hasn't broken 70 since the third round of the Transitions Championships. He's also missed his last two cuts and four of his last six.
Matteson, however, was able to take advantage of getting out early today and it showed. "We had eight, nine, 10 holes without much wind," he said. "You can make a lot of birdies fast. And getting our shot out this morning was nice after seeing what the guys did yesterday morning." -- Brian Wacker
COURSE RECORD SAFE FOR NOW (2:50 p.m.): It looks like the course record is safe for now. Troy Matteson tied it earlier in the day with an 8-under 64 and David Mathis had a chance to break it, but stumbled down the stretch.
Mathis had eight birdies through his first 11 holes before stringing together five straight pars, including one on the par-5 seventh, which is playing as the easiest hole on the golf course. Then Mathis really gave one back with a bogey on the par-4 eighth. to drop back to 7 under on the round, which is where he finished. Nonetheless, that leaves Mathis is good shape heading to the weekend three back of the lead. -- Brian Wacker
FROM THE INTERVIEW ROOM (2:28 p.m.): Jerry Kelly was something the last two days that he really hasn't been the last couple of years -- consistent.
"My game hasn't been there for a while," Kelly said. "The timing of my game hasn't been there. I haven't put anything together. I chipped well, putted well, drove the ball pretty good, and my iron shots were pretty good. So things are coming together, it's gelling."
Indeed. Kelly loves this tournament -- and that goes beyond just the golf course -- and is finally starting to put the pieces together after a couple of years of inconsistent play and nagging injuries.
A year after a 2008 in which Kelly had mixed results at best with four top 10s and 16 missed cuts, he has two top 10s and is in position for his first win since the 2002 Advil Western Open.
"It's just really comfortable on out there," Kelly said. "I hit the ball very well. It was really consistent over two days." -- Brian Wacker
EARLY BIRD GETS THE LEAD (2:15 p.m.): How important has it been to get out early at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans? Consider that Charlie Wi, who was the first-round leader, posted his 66 in the morning. The current leader, Jerry Kelly, posted his 66 today early as well. Troy Matteson, who tied the course record with a 64, also went out this morning.
"You didn't see any good scores in the afternoon," Kenny Perry said yesterday. He should know. Perry struggled with a couple of bogeys late in the afternoon. -- Brian Wacker
BAD DAY FOR BUTCHER, TODD (2:00 p.m.): It's been a rough week for a couple of Nationwide Tour players in this week's PGA TOUR event in New Orleans.
A week after setting a Nationwide Tour record with two aces in back-to-back rounds, Brendon Todd struggled to a 10-over 82 yesterday at TPC Louisiana.
Fellow Nationwide Tour player Rodney Butcher is in a similar situation, currently sitting in last place at 13 over after a 77 yesterday and a round of 8 over through 14 holes today. We'll leave the word play to you on that one. -- Brian Wacker
KELLY IN THE LEAD (1:35 p.m.): Troy Matteson may have just tied the course record, and David Mathis may actually break it, but Jerry Kelly is the current clubhouse leader at 10 under through two rounds after turning in a 66 a few minutes ago.
For the second day in a row, Kelly had just two bogeys -- on the heels of a dislocated rib and a WD at the Verizon Heritage. The two-time winner obviously had it going much better today, turning up the heat with five birdies on the back nine, including one on the par-5 finishing hole.
His 68-66 start are his best back-to-back rounds since he closed with 66-68 in Cancun, where he finished in a tie for sixth. One big key to Kelly's fast start this week: His putting. He's averaging 26.5 putts through the first two rounds and has just one three-putt. Another key: Greens in regulation. Kelly hit 13 of 18 yesterday and 14 of 18 today. -- Brian Wacker
MATTESON MATCHES RECORD (1:18 p.m.): Troy Matteson just matched the course record here at TPC Louisiana, shooting an 8-under 64 to grab the clubhouse lead.
Matteson reached 8 under with an eagle on the par-5 seventh, the easiest hole on the course, when he rolled in a 25-footer. His 64 is just one shy of a personal best, a 63 that he shot in the first round of last year's Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart.
Matteson may have company by day's end, however. David Mathis is also at 8 under in his round and is through 13 holes. Ian Poulter, meanwhile, is at 5 under on his round and through 14 holes. -- Brian Wacker
Below is a look at Matteson's scorecard from today:
COURSE RECORD BEING CHALLENGED (12:55 p.m.): Troy Matteson and David Mathis are challenging the course record at TPC Louisiana with both players moving to 8 under on the day.
Matteson, who just eagled the par-5 seventh (his 16th hole of the day) after rolling in a 25-foot putt, has a couple of holes left to play and is headed toward his best round of the year and one of the best of his career.
Mathis, on the other hand, still has six holes to play on the front nine to complete his round. With the par-5 seventh still to come and a good birdie opportunity at No. 8, he too would could be headed toward a season-best and a career-best round in this, his rookie year on the PGA TOUR. -- Brian Wacker
Follow both their rounds live with Shot Tracker by clicking here.
BIRDIE BARRAGE CONTINUES (12:39 p.m.): The David Mathis birdie train rolls on. He just made his seventh birdie in 10 holes in today's second round at the Zurich Classic. The course record at TPC Louisiana is 8 under.
Mathis, a rookie on the PGA TOUR this season whose best finish this year is a T27 at The Honda Classic, has been spot on, hitting 6 of 8 fairways and 9 of 10 greens in regulation today. He's also taken just 12 putts so far -- that's what happens when you chip in twice for birdie.
The 35-year-old Mathis isn't unfamiliar with going low. At last year's BMW Charity Pro-Am, which he nearly went wire-to-wire in winning, Mathis opened with a pairs of 65s. In Sunday's final round there, he opened with three birdies in his first five holes. -- Brian Wacker
Below is a look at Mathis' scorecard so far. Follow his round live with Shot Tracker by clicking here.
PERRY STAYING IN CONTENTION (12:25 p.m.): Kenny Perry admitted that yesterday thoughts of what happened at the Masters two weeks ago started to creep into his head a little bit -- maybe that explains the sudden headache he got on No. 15 yesterday, too.
In all seriousness though, Perry was battling a bad headache down the stretch and made a couple of bogeys coming in. That hasn't affected him so far today, however, and he's been able to take advantage of some good scoring opportunities with with a couple of early birdies and an eagle to close out his first nine holes.
With four holes to play in today's round, Perry is 3 under on the day and 6 under for the tournament. just four shots back of Jerry Kelly, who just moved to 10 under. -- Brian Wacker
KELLY PLAYING WELL (12:05 p.m.): To call this season a roller-coaster ride for Jerry Kelly would be an understatement. He's got two top 10s in Puerto Rico and Cancun, but has also missed two cuts and withdrew from another tournament, last week's Verizon Heritage, with an illness after recording a 10 on the par-5 15th at Harbour Town during the second round.
Today, Kelly has been much more accurate -- something that's on occasion plagued him throughout his career -- with 7 of 11 fairways hit and 11 of 14 greens in regulation on his way to a five-birdie, no-bogey effort through 14 holes. -- Brian Wacker
PERRY TAKING ADVANTAGE (11:43 a.m.): Kenny Perry didn't exactly finish up the way he wanted to yesterday, making a couple of bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17 late in the day to end his opening round at 3 under. Because of that, he knew he would have to take advantage of good scoring conditions with an early tee time today as the wind is expected to pick up in the afternoon. So far, he's done just that, making two birdies and an eagle on the par-5 18th, where he rolled in a 36-foot putt.
That has Perry near the top of the leaderboard in New Orleans as we near the afternoon wave. Another player making a Perry-like jump is David Mathis, who had three straight birdies and five overall through his first eight holes on the back.
Expect to see a lot of this through the morning at TPC Louisiana. Don't expect to see a lot of it in the afternoon. Things are going to get tougher when the wind starts blowing. -- Brian Wacker
BIRDIE ALERT (11:30 a.m.): Troy Matteson is charging up the leaderboard thanks to a 31 on the back nine at TPC Louisiana, where he made four birdies in a five-hole stretch at one point. He's since added another birdie on the front to get to 6 under on the day and within one of the current lead.
Two of Matteson's birdies came in spectacular fashion with the 29-year-old Georgia Native and 2006 Frys.com Open champion having chipped in from 50 feet on No. 12 and again from 51 feet on No. 17. Right now, he's got the lowest round of the day and if he can get to 8 under by the end of it, he'll match the course record. -- Brian Wacker
TOMS BACK IN THE FLOW (11:15 a.m.): David Toms is in a familiar and yet still unfamiliar place atop the leaderboard at 8 under at the moment here at the Zurich Classic. Familiar because Toms is a native Louisianan who won this event in 2001. Unfamiliar because he's rarely been in contention since battling a myriad of injuries last season.
Fully healthy for the first time since 2007, Toms' swing is close to being back to where it needs to be. His biggest hurdle right now is the 5-inch space between the ears.
"The thought process carries over to how you you play and what kind of shots you hit. Having the confidence to deal with hitting shots when it really means something," Toms said earlier this week. "That's what I've been lacking so far this year."
Case in point: Toms was in contention in the first full-field tournament of the year, the Sony Open in Hawaii, and hit a bad drive on the last hole on Sunday. The old Toms -- like the one who won the 2001 PGA Championship -- wouldn't have hit that shot.
Because he hadn't won in 2007, however, Toms was pressing. He did the same thing in Phoenix two weeks later, making a bad bogey on the 16th with an 8-iron. And then again in Tampa, where he had a chance to win on Sunday, but shot 76.
"it would mean the world to me [to win here]," Toms said. "But I'm just trying to get into contention first." So far, so good on that one. -- Brian Wacker
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