Colorado Springs, Colo.
After coming up short from the middle of the 18th fairway Friday, Kelly took advantage of a decent lie outside a bunker, chipped onto the green and watched it go straight in. He made three more birdies on the front nine — his second nine — to complete a 1-under 69 and headed into the weekend at 5-under 135, one shot ahead of Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Kelly wasn’t the only one leaving his putter in the bag on a day that produced only 10 below-par scores and resulted in only eight players reaching the halfway point in the red:
Jay Haas chipped in for eagle on his final hole, the par-5 ninth, to shoot 69 and get to 1 under. “It wasn’t a no-brainer, but compared to a lot of the shots around the greens here, it was easier than what I’ve had,” the 64-year-old said.
Paul Goydos holed out from the 14th fairway as part of a 67 that left him at 1 under. It could’ve been better had his putt on 18 dropped after circling 180 degrees around the cup, then hanging on the edge and inexplicably staying out. “Slowest lip-out I’ve ever seen,” Goydos said.
Even John Smoltz got into the mix. The Hall of Fame pitcher chipped in from the rough near the 12th green for a birdie as part of a sweet ending to the his fantasy-camp stay with the world’s best senior golfers. He followed his opening-day 85 with a 77.
Ko Charges at LPGA Major
Kildeer, Ill.
The 21-year-old New Zealander shook off a rough first round at Kemper Lakes to reach 4 under and give herself a shot to win her third major.
First-round leader Sung Hyun Park (72), 2016 winner Brooke Henderson (71) and So Yeon Ryu (69) were tied for the lead at 6-under 138.
Three-Way Tie at National
Potomac, Md.
Tiger Woods finished a steamy morning on the TPC Potomac at Avenel with two pars, checking in at 65. He’s four shots off the pace.
