This week, the ol’ course is playing like a pitch-and-putt.
Tim Clark, Vijay Singh and Sean O’Hair shot 64s and were lined up right behind Stricker: Clark was one shot back, Singh one more and O’Hair yet another. Jason Day (65) was 10-under, Woody Austin (68) was another stroke back, and Ryan Palmer (63) was 8-under. “The weather, for two days in a row — well, all week since we’ve been here — has been unbelievable,” Stricker said. “Wind is what this course needs to get difficult, but we haven’t seen it yet. … I kind of like what’s going on right now.” Clark’s two-round total of 127 matched the previous best for back-to-back rounds set by Justin Leonard in ’03. Singh’s two-round total of 128 matched the previous midway mark set by Kenny Perry in 2005. And they’re only good for footnotes because of Stricker’s 126. “I’d rather have the trophy,” Stricker said. “We’re only halfway through. I’d like to keep making putts. That solves a lot of problems.” Colonial members can only shake their heads at these scores, especially after undertaking course alterations that were supposed to make things tougher, not easier. Some West Texas gusts would help show whether they miscalculated or if it really is just the calm conditions.
The cut line was further evidence of how tame the course is playing. It was even par (140). To put that in perspective, par would’ve beaten Hogan the last two times he won it, in 1959 and ’53 he was 1-under in all three of his other victories here.