Round 2, John Deere Classic
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LOOKING AHEAD (8 p.m.): So, how should the pros approach Sunday since they'll be playing 36 holes instead of 18 and will not re-pair between rounds?
Brandt Snedeker, who's tied for fifth at 8 under, offered this perspective:
"It's gonna be one of those days where everybody is gonna have to make a lot of birdies," Snedeker said. "You can't go out there thinking if you shoot 2-under, 3-under par and be somewhere near the lead.
"You're gonna have to go out and shoot 5- or 6-under par and know you're gonna be -- hopefully -- a few birdies from winning the tournament. So that's kind of nice to have that feeling and to know that you're gonna go out there and make a ton of birdies and the leader is not gonna have any feeling of comfort whatsoever because there's so much golf going into tomorrow.
"Just want to kind of get some rest tonight, wake up tomorrow and realize half the tournament is left and a lot can happen." -- Mike McAllister
CUT AT 4 UNDER (7:45 p.m.): With just a handful of players still on the course, the projected cut line of 4 under will hold. Notables who will miss the cut include:
• Lucas Glover. The U.S. Open champ, playing for the fourth consecutive week, fell just short at 3 under (69-70). That means he'll get an extra day's rest before heading out to the Open Championship.
• Ricky Barnes. Tied for second at the U.S. Open, he's playing for the fourth straight week just like Glover. Finished at 2 under (69-71). It's his first missed cut in six starts.
• David Duval. Another U.S. Open runner-up, Duval made a charge on Saturday, shooting 6-under 66. But that first-round 75 buried this week's PGATOUR.COM spotlight player.
• David Toms. Shot even-par 71 in both rounds to miss the cut for just the fifth time in 17 starts this year.
Meanwhile, Davis Love III notched a late birdie to sneak inside the cut line, while Charley Hoffman posted a 6-under 65 to keep his cut record perfect this season with his 17th made cut. Dating back to last season, this will be Hoffman's 26th consecutive made cut, the second-longest active streak next to Tiger Woods' 38. (Click here for list). -- Mike McAllister
KELLY IN WITH 64 (7:10 p.m.): Jerry Kelly parred the ninth hole to complete his bogey-free 7-under 64, putting him at 9 under for the tournament, four shots off the lead.
For Kelly, who won earlier this year in New Orleans, the 64 is his lowest round since he shot 64 here a year ago in the third round at TPC Deere Run. -- Mike McAllister
KELLY'S CLOSING SPEED (6:50 p.m.): Jerry Kelly is finishing his second round with a flourish, having reeled off four consecutive birdies as he heads to the par-4 18th.
Kelly is now 7 under for his round and 9 under for the tournament. One more birdie on the last hole and he'll be playing in the final group Sunday with Darron Stiles and Steve Stricker.
Meanwhile, Cameron Beckman, who started his round on the 10th tee, also turned on the jets as he finished play Saturday, with birdies at the seventh, eighth and ninth holes -- the latter two holes among the most difficult on the course. Beckman finished with a 5-under 66 to make the cut after shooting an even-par 71 on Thursday. -- Mike McAllister
SECOND HELPINGS (6:45 p.m.): Second rounds have been good to Scott McCarron lately.
A week ago, he shot a second-round 65 at the AT&T National that allowed him to make the cut. He eventually finished tied for 35th, his best result in four starts.
On Saturday, McCarron shot a second-round bogey-free 5-under 66 and now stands at 8 under for the tournament going into the 36-hole finish Sunday.
McCarron, who had surgery on his right elbow three years ago that forced him to miss the entire 2007 season, has two top-10 finishes this season, the latest a tie for fourth at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. -- Mike McAllister
PERRY LURKING (6:30 p.m.): Defending champion Kenny Perry has quietly put together a couple of 3-under 68s and will go into Sunday's 36-hole day in a position to make a move.
He's at 6 under for the tournament, seven shots off the lead with half the tournament still remaining.
Since there is no re-pairing between the third and fourth rounds, the possibility exists that the winner could be someone who finishes well ahead of the last groups. Perry seems like as good a candidate as any to fill that role. -- Mike McAllister
HAIRCUT STORY (6:15 p.m.): During his media session Saturday, Tim Petrovic was grilled about several important issues ... including his recent haircut.
Here's his response:
"One day I just said, I'm tired of it. It was getting long and kind of like Kramer or Yahoo Serious. Do you remember who Yahoo Serious is, this the Australian guy with the hair? I bought the grooming kit for the dog, and I just got in the mirror and started going, OK, that looks good, and I just took all off.
"The kids kind of freaked out a little bit. It's growing back a little bit. This is like long compared to the way to what it was."
Hmm, not much we can add to that. -- Mike McAllister
FOUR HOLES, 11 STROKES (6 p.m.): Ryan Moore wasn't going to make the cut an hour ago, but now it appears he'll get to play 36 holes Sunday.
Starting at the par-4 14th, Moore has gone birdie-birdie-birdie-eagle, taking all of 11 strokes through that four-hole stretch to move to 5 under for the tournament with one hole left in his round. The projected cutline currently is 4 under. -- Mike McAllister
THOUGHTS ON 36 HOLES (5:50 p.m.): Those players who make the cut Saturday realize that Sunday will be a long day, with 36 holes scheduled in order to avoid extending the tournament into Monday.
"It's gonna be a long day, and I imagine it's gonna be humid, too," said Steve Stricker, who posted a second-round 10-under 61 to put himself in a position to make a move Sunday. "You're just gonna have to pace yourself. We're not re-pairing after the third round, so that's gonna create a little bit of a -- not really a problem, but a situation where somebody could come from behind.
"You may not be playing with the leader at all. Leader could be behind us, whatever, in front of us. You don't know where they can come from. So that'll be a little different, too. It's gonna be a marathon. It's just gonna be a test of endurance and patience, because it's a long day and you just need to stay focused and be patient."
Added Tim Petrovic: "It's a long day. Everybody's different. I don't mind it. The walking is going to be a little bit harder. The ground is softer, so 36 holes you may feel like walking 45 holes. I don't know how many guys have ever played that many holes in a day. The caddies are going to be really sore tomorrow night."
Noted current leader Darron Stiles: "It's the nature of the beast. We've all done it before, and we're gonna do it again at some point. What's one more time?" -- Mike McAllister
HAMILTON'S HOT STREAK (5:25 p.m.): With the Open Championship set for next week, perhaps a former champ is getting back into form.
Todd Hamilton certainly looks on track in his last six holes, with birdies at the 15th, the 18th and the first, then an eagle at the par-5 second.
Now 5 under on his round, he's 8 under for the tournament, five shots off the lead.
Hamilton hasn't won since his 2004 Open Championship victory, but he did have a tie for fourth earlier this year at the Verizon Heritage. That was his first top-10 finish on TOUR since 2006.
To follow Hamilton's round on ShotTracker, click here. -- Mike McAllister
JANZEN OK WITH 70 (5 p.m.): First-round co-leader Lee Janzen followed his 64 on Thursday with a 1-under 70 on Saturday, leaving him at 8 under for the tournament.
Janzen said he played just about like he did in the first round, even if the score didn't reflect it.
"Everybody wonders why you can't follow a 64 with another 64," Janzen told the PGA TOUR Network. "Well, it's hard to shoot a 64. That's the first reason." -- Mike McAllister
GLOVER NEEDS TO MAKE MOVE (4:50 p.m.): U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, playing for the fourth consecutive week, is in danger of missing the cut. He's currently at 3 under midway through his second round; the projected cut is now at 4 under.
Since winning the U.S. Open, Glover tied for 11th at the Travelers Championship and finished tied for fifth last week at the AT&T National, as he honored commitments he had made to those tournaments prior to Bethpage Black.
Glover, of course, will play for a fifth consecutive week next week at the Open Championship at Turnberry.
To follow the rest of Glover's round on ShotTracker, click here. -- Mike McAllister
SECOND-ROUND NOTES (4:40 p.m.): Some quick notes with the second round yet to be completed ...
• Darron Stiles: Stiles' 36-hole total of 129 is a personal best; his previous best 36-hole score was a 132 at the 2003 Greater Hartford Open and the 2006 Buick Championship.
• Steve Stricker: Stricker fired a 10-under 61 in the second-round to tie J.P. Hayes' tournament record from 2002. Hayes also recorded his 61 in the second-round and went on to win by four strokes. ... Stricker had 11 threes on his card today and needed just nine putts on the back nine and 22 total putts en route to his 61. ... Stricker's 22 putts today matches his career-best round, which he has done four other times. His most recent 22 putt performance was at the 2005 Chrysler Classic of Tucson. ... Stricker tied his career-best round (61) set earlier this year at the 50th Bob Hope Classic. Prior to his pair of 61s this year his best 18-hole score was a 62 recorded at the Phoenix Open in 2001 and 2003. ... Prior to today's 29 on the back nine (his first nine), Steve Stricker had two other 29s in his career, the most recent came at the 2001 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. ... Stricker is looking for his first double-win season on TOUR since he won the Kemper Open and Western Open in 1996.He is currently in fifth place in the FedExCup standings and has a chance to move into second-place behind Tiger Woods.
• Other notes: This season, 13 of 27 players have turned their second-round lead/co-lead into victory. Tiger Woods was the last to accomplish the feat at the AT&T National. ... The 2009 John Deere Classic is the 10th PGA TOUR event to experience at least one weather delay this season. The most recent rain delay came two weeks ago at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, CT where Kenny Perry ultimately emerged victorious. ... Prior to this year's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the last time a round was suspended without any play was the 2008 BMW Championship (Round 1). ... Paul Stankowski (shin injury) and James Oh (neck) withdrew prior to the second-round. -- Mark Stevens
SECOND-ROUND LEADS (4:30 p.m.): Darron Stiles likely will be the second-round leader when play is finished later today. If his lead holds up, it will be the third time he has held the second-round lead at a PGA TOUR event. -- Mark Stevens
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STILES THE REPAIRMAN (4:15 p.m.): After wrapping up his second-round 65 to take a three-shot lead Saturday afternoon, Darron Stiles didn't have time to relax and think about his spot atop the John Deere Classic leaderboard.
Instead, he had to buy and install a new water pump in his motor home, since the old one broke Friday night.
"I'm the repairman," Stiles told the PGA TOUR Network.
Not that he minded. Being 36 holes away from your first TOUR win can result in some jitters. Making his 107th TOUR start, Stiles is looking to improve on his career-best finish of T9 at the 2005 Buick Championship and at the 2005 Chrysler Classic of Tucson. He has not had a top 10 finish since 2005.
"I think (the repair) will actually help get my mind off all this until tomorrow," Stiles said.
And Stiles knows it will be a long day with two rounds ahead of him and no re-pairing in between rounds.
"It's going to be a long day with the same two guys," Stiles said. "Hopefully we don't run out of things to talk about." -- Mike McAllister
SUNDAY INFO (3:50 p.m.): Third-round tee times on Sunday will start at 7:45 a.m. ET (6:45 a.m. local time). The completion of the final round is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. CBS will air the final round from 3-7 p.m. ET.
CUT INFO (3:45 p.m.): Just to clarify, because of the adjustments in the schedule that will require a 36-hole finish on Sunday, the cut will be the closest number to 60 players. That means there could be less than 60 players in the final two rounds.
Currently, the cutline is 3 under. Players who have finished their second rounds and are below that cutline include Ricky Barnes, who played so well at the U.S. Open; and David Toms, who has two T2 finishes in his last three starts.
Players who are still on the course and currently below the cutline include Charley Hoffman, who has not missed a cut in his first 16 starts this year; and David Duval, who opened with a 75 and may have to make up too much ground. -- Mike McAllister
STILES FINISHES WITH 65 (3:15 p.m.): First-round co-leader Darron Stiles has set the pace after shooting a 6-under 65 to go with his 64 on Thursday. That puts him at 13 under for the tournament, three strokes ahead of Steve Stricker.
While many of the players were chewing up the back nine at TPC Deere Run, Stiles actually made his move on the front side when he posted five birdies in seven holes before reaching the two toughest holes on the course, the eighth and ninth (he parred both).
Here's a look at Stiles' scorecard. For more on his round, check out his ShotTracker card. -- Mike McAllister
STRICKER'S DAY (3:05 p.m.): Steve Stricker started his round Saturday with one big goal -- just make the cut.
After opening with an even-par 71 on Thursday, Stricker knew he had to make up some ground, especially since the cut is going to be the closet number to 60 players because of the schedule crunch (due to Friday's rainout) that will require players to play 36 holes on Sunday. Most tournaments cut to 70 players and ties.
Well, after shooting a 10-under 61, Stricker doesn't have to worry about making the cut now. He can now set his sights on winning Sunday.
"The pressure was on to come out with a good round -- and I did," Stricker told the PGA TOUR Network. "That makes me feel good."
Stricker tied the course record with that 61, which included nine birdies and one eagle in which he holed out from the fairway on the 17th.
"It was a lot of fun today," Stricker said. "Obviously, a lot of things went right for me. ... Overall, my putting probably carried me through the day. It was a great round."
To hear more from Stricker, click here. -- Mike McAllister
STILES PULLING AWAY (2:50 p.m.): Darron Stiles, the first round co-leader after shooting a 7-under 64, entered his last two holes Saturday at 13 under for the tournament, three strokes ahead of his next closest competitor, Steve Stricker.
Stiles was just 1 under on the back nine (he started his round on the 10th tee), but has heated up after making the turn, with five birdies in the next seven holes. -- Mike McAllister
HOT GROUP (2:40 p.m.): The threesome of Steve Stricker, Scott Verplank and Chad Campbell sizzled on Saturday, with a combined 21 under. Said Stricker: "That's unhead of, really.".
Stricker, of course, set the pace with a 10-under 61. Verplank finished with a 7-under 64 and Campbell shot a 4-under 67.
The threesome started on the back nine and were a combined 14 under at the turn.
For more on this threesome, click here. -- Mike McAllister
STRICKER TIES COURSE RECORD (2:15 p.m.): Steve Stricker has put the finishing touches on a 10-under 61 that ties the course record at TPC Deere Run and gives him the clubhouse lead.
J.P. Hayes also shot a 61 in the 2002 John Deere Classic.
Stricker, who opened with a first-round even-par 71, had nine birdies and one eagle (when he holed out from the fairway on the 17th), along with one bogey. He was at 10 under on his round with three holes left and challenging for a 59, but parred in
Here's a look at Stricker's scorecard Saturday. For more on his round, check out his ShotTracker card. -- Mike McAllister
PALMER IN WITH 64 (2 p.m.): Two-time TOUR winner Ryan Palmer posted his second lowest round of the year, a bogey-free 7-under 64 to move him up the leaderboard. He's now at 8 under for the tournament.
Palmer had seven birdies on his round Saturday; no surprise that he can string a batch of birdies together. Last year, he ranked first on TOUR in birdie average with 4.16 birdies per round.
That average has dropped to 3.19 this season, but Ryan told the PGA TOUR Network that his putting stroke has returned.
"I've been putting good last week and a half," said Palmer, who shot a 63 earlier this year at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in his home state of Texas. "This was one of the best putting days I've had in years."
Here's a look at Palmer's scorecard Saturday. For more on Palmer's round, check out his ShotTracker card. -- Mike McAllister
FEDEXCUP NOTES (1:40 p.m.): A few quick notes as the players jockey for position with the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup less than two months away...
• Four of the top 10 players in the FedExCup standings are teeing it up this week at TPC Deere Run.
• Only two players can pass Tiger Woods at the top of the standings this week -- Kenny Perry and Zach Johnson. Johnson needs a victory to move to the top spot, but Perry only needs a solo third or better finish.
• Only three players currently outside the top 10 have the chance to move into the top 10 this week. The three include David Toms, Charley Hoffman, and Steve Marino, however only Toms could make the move without a victory.
• Steve Stricker (FedExCup Rank - 5): Stricker could move into second with a victory this week and a solo third could move him into third ... With six top-10 finishes in 14 events this season, Stricker is averaging about 110 points per start ... Stricker is definitely a player to watch come playoff time as in the first two year's of the playoffs he has finished in the top 20 in seven of the eight events.
• Chris Stroud (FedExCup Rank - 108): Stroud could move to 24th in the standings with a victory ... With only one top 10 in 19 events this season, Stroud is only averaging about 16 points per start.
• Darron Stiles (FedExCup Rank - 212): Stiles could move to 47th in the standings with a victory ... Stiles' only made cut in 11 starts this season was a tie for 34th at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
• Tim Petrovic (FedExCup Rank - 100): Petrovic could move to 23rd in the standings with a victory this week ... Starting with a tie for eighth at the Verizon Heritage, Petrovic earned 268 of his 318 points -- about 84 percent -- in four consecutive starts.
• Brandt Snedeker (FedExCup Rank - 143): Snedeker could move to 37th with a victory this week ... Snedeker has earned 128 points in his last two starts -- about 60 percent of his total for the season. -- Mike Vitti
STRICKER BIRDIES AGAIN (1:20 p.m.): Steve Stricker moved to 10 under on his round with a birdie at the par-4 sixth. Three holes left -- he needs to birdie both for a 59. It'll be tough, since the most difficult holes on the course are the eighth and ninth holes. -- Mike McAllister
PETROVIC ON THE COURSE (1:10 p.m.): Clubhouse leader Tim Petrovic just told the PGA TOUR Network on Sirius/XM that he was impressed with the course conditions, especially given the amount of rain TPC Deere Run has dealt with this week.
"The course, considering how much rain we had, is in great shape," said Petrovic, who shot a 4-under 67 on Saturday to climb atop the leaderboard at 9 under. "I thought it would be a lot wetter."
For more on Petrovic, check out his video from Saturday. -- Mike McAllister
UPDATE ON SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE (1:05 p.m.): In trying to squeeze in 36 holes on Sunday, tournament officials have decided to group the players in threesomes going off on both the first and 10th tees. In addition, there will be no re-pairing in between the third and fourth rounds. It will be an interesting -- and long -- day, to be sure. -- Mike McAllister
STRICKER BOUNCES BACK (12:55 p.m.): -- After stumbling on the third hole, Steve Stricker answered with a birdie on the par-4 fourth when he rolled in a birdie putt of 20 feet, 9 inches. That puts him back at 9 under on his round with four holes to play. He'll need two birdies to finish with a 60. -- Mike McAllister
SOLID YEAR CONTINUES FOR STROUD (12:45 p.m.) -- You may not know a lot about Chris Stroud, but he's quietly moved into a share of the lead at TPC Deere Run.
Stroud is a big hitter who is one of one a select PGA TOUR regulars in the top 100 in both Driving Distance and Driving Accuracy. Stroud has made huge strides this year, making eight cuts.
Here is look at Stroud's stats from 2009:
STRICKER THREE-PUTTS FOR BOGEY (12:35 p.m.) -- Steve Stricker three-putted from 50 feet on the par-3 third, all but ending any thoughts of 59. He's still 8 under for the day.
STRICKER BIRDIES TWO MORE, GETS TO 9 UNDER (12:19 p.m.) -- Steve Stricker reached the 563-yard second hole in two shots and two-putted from 65 feet, putting him at 9 under with seven holes to play.
Stricker, who has played the par-5s in 5 under today, needs to birdie three of the final seven holes to shoot 59. Realistically, he probably needs to birdie three of the final. six holes, because the ninth hole -- his final hole of the day -- is a 503-yard par-4 is that is usually the toughest hole on the course.
STRICKER HAS AN OUTSIDE SHOT AT 59, AND HERE'S WHY (11:48 a.m.) -- Steve Stricker just made the turn in 29, and with the front side playing to a par of 35, Stricker can shoot the magical 59 with a 30 on the front.
Stricker has already shown he can shoot some extreme scores -- he had a 61 in the The 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer in January -- and his putting skills make him a prime candidate to reel off several birdies in a row.
With the heavy rain softening the greens at TPC Deere Run, we could see history today.
STEVE STRICKER CATCHES FIRE (11:30 a.m.) -- We nearly forgot about Steve Stricker after his ordinary even-par 71 on Thursday, but the Wisconsin resident is already six under today after making an eagle on the par-5 17th.
This tournament is practically a home game for Stricker, but this is his first appearance at TPC Deere Run since 2006, when he tied for 51st.
To track Stricker using Shot Tracker, click here.
PETROVIC TAKES THE LEAD (11:20 a.m.) -- Tim Petrovic has used only 12 putts through his first 10 holes on Saturday, and his four birdies have gotten him to 9 under.
Petrovic, who is 100th in FedExCup standings, has scored almost all of his FedExCup points this season in one three-week stretch this spring, when he finished 11th or better at Harbour Town, New Orleans and Quail Hollow.
To track Snedeker using Shot Tracker, click here.
SNEDEKER LOOKING GOOD AHEAD OF BRITISH OPEN (11:16 a.m.) -- Brandt Snedeker wasn't even aware that his top five finish at the AT&T National gained him entry into the British Open. The Tennessean appeared to be fully healed from a painful rib injury that limited his starts this spring.
Snedeker just hit the 8 under mark at TPC Deere Run with his 32 on the front side on Saturday morning. He's yet to make a bogey, and he's a lock to make his third cut in a row.
To track Snedeker using Shot Tracker, click here.
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