The leader said he’s been working with a psychologist, and “we just focus on the process. We don’t focus on the outcomes.” The outcome of that process is the lead at the Players Championship. Here are three things you need to know after Friday’s darkness-suspended second round at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Lee Westwood leads
Lee Westwood said he focuses, too, on “making sure I have fun.”
Six birdies, no bogeys and a two-stroke lead are no doubt a blast.
Westwood, the runner-up last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, birdied his first hole, the 10th, then his next hole. He birdied 2, 3 and 4. On his final hole, the par-5 9th, he pitched to within 5 feet for another birdie, a six-under 66, a nine-under total and a one-shot lead over Matthew Fitzpatrick.
“Hit it well off the tee,” Westwood said. “Hit quite a lot of fairways. My iron shots were good. I played away from flags when I needed to. Got suckered into a couple of pins, but short game bailed me out on those. Chipping and bunker play all felt good and rolled the ball well on the greens. I had fun out there. Felt calm and in control.”
Fitzpatrick shot his second-straight 68. Two shots back are first-round leader Sergio Garcia and Chris Kirk.
Bryson DeChambeau is three back
Bryson DeChambeau, the winner last week at the Arnold Palmer, double-bogeyed the 10th hole, then played five under after that for a three-under 69. He’s among six players who are three behind Westwood.
Bryson DeChambeau in Players Championship hunt after ominous Friday start
“I’m happy with the fact that I’ve still been able to keep myself in it and score well,” DeChambeau said. “I’ve been pretty lucky, for the most part. I don’t think that’ll happen this weekend. I’ve got to make sure that my game is good off the tee, so I don’t have those issues occurring and I don’t have to rely on luck for the most part. I have to get it in the fairway.”
Three players are four shots back, and four players, including world No. 2 Jon Rahm, are five behind.
Rory McIlroy expected to miss cut
Among the players expected to miss the cut — which will be determined when play resumes on Saturday morning — are Rory McIlroy (10 over after a 75); Xander Schauffele (four over after a 72); and Patrick Cantlay (five over after a 75).