Jason Day can thank a 35-foot miracle putt for preserving his A$2.6m Byron Nelson match title defence on life assist on Saturday (AEST), with the Australian making the lower in a exceptional, Thirty sixth-hole scene.
The Australian, who received at TPC Craig Ranch final yr, was flirting with the lower line at six-under as he got here up the 18th gap.
Day then shockingly put his second shot within the water, forcing him to take a penalty drop, earlier than a poor fourth shot left him with practically 35-feet to save lots of par.
The blunder was labelled as “fully inexcusable” in commentary, with the commentator including: “I’ve seen some fairly tragic cuts in my day…”
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Solely, Day in the end wasn’t lower.
He someway sank the monster putt to save lots of par, and his match, whereas he seemed a determine of bemusement after his rollercoaster gap.
In the meantime, PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp birdied 4 of his final six holes to seize a one-stroke lead after Friday’s second spherical.
The 29-year-old American fired a seven-under par 64 to face on 14-under 128 after 36 holes at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
“For probably the most half hitting it fairly strong and preserving in the best areas,” Knapp stated. “Made it comparatively straightforward on myself. By no means actually felt like I needed to scramble or something like that.” England’s Matt Wallace, who led after a gap 63, shared second on 129 with American Troy Merritt, who closed with a 16-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth to fireside the day’s low spherical of 62.
World quantity 56 Knapp received his first PGA title at February’s Mexico Open and says he’s not nervous about being in competition.
“I really feel snug. I’ve been there earlier than,” he stated. “Programs like this the place scores are going to be low you don’t fear an excessive amount of about what different guys are doing. You attempt to make a bunch of birdies. If I simply hold doing the issues I’m doing I’ll be in a great place.”
Knapp, a back-nine starter, sank an 11-foot birdie putt at 14 and reeled off three birdies in a row with a 30-foot birdie putt at 16, adopted by one other from simply outdoors 18 ft on the par-3 seventeenth and a two-footer on the par-5 18th.
“Simply put a bit of bit extra of a premium the final couple weeks on inexperienced studying,” Knapp stated. “Good to see a couple of extra stepping into.” After a three-putt bogey on the third, Knapp answered with a 32-foot birdie putt on the par-3 fourth and a two-footer on the par-5 fifth, a 16-foot birdie putt on the par-3 seventh and a tap-in birdie on the par-5 ninth after reaching the inexperienced in two.
“Scores are going to be low,” Knapp stated. “Simply obtained to maintain the pedal down and hold making an attempt to make birdies.”
Two years in the past, Knapp was working as a nightclub bouncer earlier than going to a developmental tour in 2023 and incomes a PGA Tour berth this yr.
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“Even after I was doing any of that stuff I all the time knew this was what I wished to do,” he stated. “Simply stored working away and sticking at it.”
Wallace had 4 birdies, an eagle and a bogey. The four-time European Tour winner seeks his second PGA triumph after final yr’s Puntacana Championship.
“Actually caught in there properly,” Wallace stated. “Hitting the ball nice off the tee. My lengthy iron play can enhance a bit of bit, however I nonetheless hit some very nice photographs.”
Three-time main winner Jordan Spieth, who can full a profession grand slam by successful the PGA Championship in two weeks, fired a 70 to overlook the lower on 138.
English 16-year-old newbie Kris Kim made the lower on 135 after capturing a 67, a birdie at 18 transferring him off the lower line.
He’s the youngest participant to make a PGA Tour lower since 16-year-old Kyle Suppa on the 2015 Sony Open in Hawaii.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Pos. Participant R1 R2 Complete
1 Jake Knapp 64 64 128 (-14)
T2 Troy Merritt 67 62 129 (-13)
T2 Matt Wallace 63 66 129 (-13)
4 Kelly Kraft 64 66 130 (-12)
Main Aussie scores
T13 Harrison Endycott 67 66 133 (-9)
T25 Adam Scott 69 65 134 (-8)
T25 Min Woo Lee 66 68 134 (-8)
T54 Jason Day 66 70 136 (-6)