SAN ANTONIO — Ryan Palmer shot a bogey-free spherical of 6-under 66 on the Valero Texas Open to guide by two photographs over Kevin Chappell, Dylan Frittelli and Matt Kuchar after Friday’s second spherical.
Palmer, at 10 beneath, surged into the lead with consecutive birdies halfway via the again 9.
Chappell, the 2017 match winner, had the day’s low spherical of 65. Frittelli additionally bought away with no bogeys throughout his 66, and Kuchar shot 69 with four-straight birdies on the again.
Palmer’s final Tour win got here in 2019. He took the lead with a 5-foot birdie putt on the par-5 14th. At 15 he transformed one other birdie putt inside 10 toes.
“It’s a golf course, if you get it offline, you’re going to struggle,” Palmer mentioned. “I was able to keep the ball in front of me. When I’ve missed fairways, I’ve gotten fortunate breaks, I think. So the weekend, it’s a matter of just avoiding those big misses.”
Hideki Matsuyama withdrew after 9 holes Friday with a sore neck, leaving early forward of his Masters title protection subsequent week.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth was making a transfer, attending to 4-under for his spherical after a brief birdie putt on his 14th gap. He was in fine condition for par on the subsequent after chipping to 3 toes away— the place he three-putted. The double-bogey put him on the projected lower line, finally making the weekend by two photographs at 2-under.
It wasn’t pretty much as good for another notable names. Bryson DeChambeau triple bogeyed the primary gap and missed the lower. Rory McIlroy failed to interrupt par in his two rounds and missed the lower.
Full-field scores from the Valero Texas Open
J.J. Spaun is in a gaggle of gamers three photographs again of Palmer. He led in the course of the morning at 10-under when he dropped an 18-foot birdie at his 14th gap. He completed with three bogeys.
“I’m still in a good position — there’s a lot of golf left,” Spaun mentioned. “It bought form of powerful with the end, and two unhealthy swings made me make a pair bogeys. Nonetheless blissful to have a shot.”
These becoming a member of Spaun at 7-under embody U.S. Open champions Lucas Glover (66) and Gary Woodland (67), Charles Howell III (67) and Brendon Todd (69).
Kuchar bogeyed three of 4 holes in the course of his spherical. Beginning on the 14th, Kuchar made four-straight birdie putts of 10 toes or extra. He mentioned there was nothing particular in regards to the run.
“I don’t think so — they fall where they fall and you never know,” he mentioned. “You try to stay as positive as you can thinking they’ll fall at some point. You never know in a round of golf, and it’s nice that they fell at some point today.”
Chappell’s solely Tour win got here right here 5 years in the past. His 65 had no bogeys on the cardboard. He eagled his eleventh gap and completed with two birdies, a 17-footer on the ending gap.
“I just feel at ease around this place,” Chappell mentioned. “My soul and this golf course get along. I really enjoy being here. I’m excited about where my game is because I’ve don’t think I played great yet. It’s not like the ball is coming out of the middle of the clubface every time and flying where I’m looking, but I’ve been able to scramble and get the ball in the hole.”
