It’s shaping up to be a Brooks weekend.
The defending PGA Champion Brooks Koepka took a commanding lead today after shooting a 65 in the second round for a minus-5 for the day and minus-12 overall at Bethpage Black.
And keeping with his historic weekend, he became the first player to score a 128 over the first 36 holes. The lowest total in the history.
“What Brooksy did, he’s driving it 330 yards in the middle of the fairway,” said Tiger woods, who had a front row seat to Koepka’s performance. “He’s got 9-irons when most of us are hitting 5-irons, 4-irons, and he’s putting well. That adds up to a pretty substantial lead, and if he keeps doing what he’s doing, there’s no reason why he can’t build on this lead.
“The golf course is soft enough where the power helps. So when he did miss the fairway, I missed it far enough down there where he was still able to hit wedges and 9-irons on the green, and on top of that, he missed on the correct sides. So he had good angles.”
Much like yesterday, Koepka came out strong with three birdies on the front nine without a bogey.
Only the 10th hole did Koepka score a bogey , as well as one on the 17, but that was canceled out by four birdies on the back-9.
“ I putted great,” Koepka said. “I feel every time — I feel like I even slide the putter right behind the ball, it’s lined up perfectly, and I don’t — I don’t have to do anything. I don’t have to kind of adjust. I feel as comfortable as I’ve ever felt putting this week. You know, like I said, poa isn’t my favorite grass to putt on, but I felt like my speed control has been pretty good.
“Today was a little off. I left a few short. You know, and then 17, I actually hit a great putt. Just bounced twice on me. So I’m very pleased with the way — with what we’ve done in the past — since Augusta, the changes we’ve made and where it’s at right now.”
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said by Woods. The Masters Champion will be going home after he was 3-over for a 5-over for the tournament.
Woods, looked good on the front nine, but bogeys four out of five holes on the back-9 was just too much for the champion.
You know, just don’t feel well and just not able to do it,” Woods said. “But resting would be better, so I would have energy to play. You know, unfortunately I just didn’t — made too many mistakes and just didn’t do the little things I need to do. You know, I had a couple three-putts. I didn’t hit wedges close. I didn’t hit any fairways today. Did a lot of little things wrong.”
And it looks like he won’t make the cut onto Saturday, which is disappointing. Going into this tournament, Woods was the story and after the Masters performance, was expected to make noise on the Black.
But all we got was a whimper.
Other notables today: Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott were 4-under and 6-under for the day to be minus-5 for the tournament. Dustin Johnson is minus-4 and fan favorite Phil Mickelson was plus-1 today and even for the tournament.
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