Golf: Morikawa takes two-shot lead at Kapalua
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Collin Morikawa plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the Sentry Tournament of Champion.
PHOTO: AFP
LOS ANGELES – Two-time Major winner Collin Morikawa had the “ohana spirit” to thank as he fired seven birdies in a seven-under 66 on Friday to grab a two-shot lead in the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
As the wind picked up at Kapalua, the American was the only player in the field to remain bogey-free after two rounds.
His 16-under 130 put him two clear of world No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and fellow American J.J. Spaun.
The 25-year-old Californian has family connections in Hawaii and said he felt the local support.
“It’s great. It definitely feels like home. Even though I never lived here,” he said.
“My dad used to come all the time as a kid and grandparents are from here and great grandparents are from here... there’s a long lineage throughout the Hawaii islands for us.
“It’s nice to kind of feel that family, that ohana spirit around and just have people rooting you on.”
Scheffler, who could regain the world No. 1 ranking from Rory McIlroy with a top-three finish, closed with four straight birdies in his 66 for 14-under 132.
Spaun, who was part of a three-way tie for the lead on Thursday with Morikawa and Jon Rahm, carded a 68.
Morikawa, who won the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship, pulled away early, opening his round with a 19-foot birdie at the first hole.
He added birdies on the third, fourth and fifth to make the turn at 13 under, then drilled a 30-foot birdie putt on the 10th.
After saving par from greenside bunkers at the 12th and 13th, he blasted out of a greenside trap to eight feet at No. 14 and made that for birdie.
He added a two-putt birdie at the par-five 15th.
He was unable to convert an eight-foot birdie chance at the 17th and his 30-foot birdie try at the last hole lipped out, leaving him one shy of the Plantation Course 36-hole record.
“Pretty solid, made some good putts. Obviously it played a lot harder with the wind, and just the fairways rolling pretty fast, you end up in a lot of spots where you’re just going to end up in the rough,” said Morikawa.
Scheffler also got off to a quick start, with birdies at the first, third and fifth before a bogey at the sixth.
He bounced back with a 14-foot birdie at the seventh and a birdie at No. 12 before surrendering a shot at the next.
He stormed home, however. He reached the green in two for a birdie at the 15th, then drained a six-footer and a five-footer for birdies at Nos. 16 and 17 before another two-putt birdie at the last.
Three-time Major winner Jordan Spieth was alone in fourth after a 66 that included two eagles for 133. Rising South Korean star Kim Joo-hyung carded a 69 for 134.
Spain’s Rahm, ranked fifth in the world, carded a 71 and was tied with US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick (69) on 135. AFP
