New year, same Spieth.
Jordan Spieth holds a four-stroke lead over Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed and Fabian Gomez through 36-holes at the Hyndai Tournament of Champions, the unofficial start to the 2015-16 PGA Tour season. Spieth shot rounds of 66-64 at the par-73 layout to challenge Ernie Els’ halfway point record of 17-under par, but ultimately the 2015 Player of the Year had to settle for a measly 16-under par.
Spieth’s start to 2016 looked an awful lot like his entire 2015, here on the second hole of the tournament, walking in a putt from 35 feet.
Jordan Spieth is already rolling in 35 footers in 2016. #QuickHits https://t.co/vMOcFy8qvF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 7, 2016
However, it was Spieth’s playing partner on Thursday, Reed, who took the first-round lead after an 8-under par 65.
When you’re on, you’re on. #QuickHits https://t.co/AhHT5jxxKM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2016
On Friday at Kapalua, before the reshuffled tee times allowed the leaders to peg it, movers and shakers from the pack emerged, cutting into Reed’s lead. Kisner, Brooks Koepka and Gomez all made early runs at the world No. 10.
Who’s hot so far in Round 2? That would be Kevin Kisner. #QuickHits https://t.co/PtKmcvPeDs
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2016
After curling in this eagle putt at No. 5, Brooks Koepka is just one off the lead. #QuickHits https://t.co/NhvpPiTvwa
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2016
Fabian Gomez has hit all 36 greens in regulation so far this week. And he can putt, too. #QuickHits https://t.co/baXN5svWpy
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 9, 2016
But it was Spieth who would ultimately unseat his playing partner, kicking it into high gear around the turn, ending his front side with a presidential chip in.
A little Spieth magic to close out the front nine. #QuickHits https://t.co/xidXe1cLXI
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 9, 2016
Opening up a three-shot lead coming down the home hole, Spieth played the 663-yard par-5 expertly, catching the side of the cup from just over 13 feet to move to 16-under and four shots clear.
It was in all the way. Jordan Spieth shoots 64. Leads by four. #QuickHits https://t.co/ssmi0Md1o1
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 9, 2016
While Spieth leads heading into the weekend, it was another young gun that’s been making some waves on the Pacific coast thanks to a new look on the course. It should come as no surprise that Rickie Fowler was the culprit.
Rickie Fowler catches bad break, hangs loose anyway. #QuickHits https://t.co/RppNPBVlYI
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2016
And adding to Fowler’s street cred, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook showed up to his game against the LA Lakers on Friday night in a similar get up, albeit the hole-ridden Slayer tee likely wouldn’t cut it on the PGA Tour.
Russ and Little Rickie rocking the same look. On one. pic.twitter.com/oATSuB3JRT
— Chris Chaney (@Wrong_Fairway) January 9, 2016
In spite of the publicity Fowler’s look has been getting on the telecast and social media, the 2015 Players Champion is at 10-under and six shots back of the lead, tied for sixth place.
Round three coverage kicks off Saturday on NBC at 4 p.m. and continues on Golf Channel at 6 p.m.
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