Camilo Villegas hits his tee shot on Friday on the eleventh gap on the El Cardonal course.
Getty Photos
They’ve performed almost 36 holes on the World Wide Technology Championship. (The second spherical was postponed as a consequence of darkness.) Greater than 36 extra are coming on the El Cardonal at Diamante course in Los Cabos, Mexico. Who’s main? Who’s shut? Who’s not? All good questions.
Listed here are eight takeaways after day two.
1. Who’s main?
Camilo Villegas, after a second-straight spherical of eight-under 64.
Notably, Friday’s 64 might have been higher — Villegas bogeyed two holes. In all, he birdied eight holes and eagled his first, the 582-yard, par-5 1st.
2. Is that important?
Sure. Villegas, who hasn’t received because the 2014 Wyndham, is taking part in beneath past-champion standing this yr, and his begins have been restricted — he’s performed in simply 10 occasions. So a win could be welcomed.
He’s additionally one of many good dudes on Tour. For a really feel of that, right here’s Villegas on Thursday, speaking a few potential victory — and with it, a doubtlessly greater schedule subsequent yr.
“It’s large. Clearly it’s large, particularly subsequent yr the place we’ve received all these elevated occasions and who is aware of what the fields are going to be. However hey, I’m not frightened about that. I’ve been out right here for a very long time. Sure, I need to be out right here for a lot of extra years, however issues don’t change, man. Get up each morning to the identical issues and play good, get higher, and also you simply received to let the remainder maintain enterprise.”
3. Who’s in competition?
There’s two methods to take a look at this.
The contending line is often 5 strokes again, so if we’re going with that, then 14 gamers have a shot. Notably, Matt Kuchar is 2 again, and Stephan Jaeger and Justin Suh are three again.
However …
A 62 at El Cardonal is on the market. Or higher. If you happen to’ve made the reduce, you’re within the hunt.
Talking of the reduce …
4. Who’s not in competition?
Notables Sahith Theegala, Harry Higgs and Stewart Cink are possible carried out.
Additionally possible lacking the reduce might be 17-year-old Billy Davis, who shot two respectable rounds of one-under 71; and PGA Championship hero Michael Block, who shot rounds of 72 and 76 and is presently tied for final within the 132-player discipline.
5. What was the spotlight of the day?
This was good:
As was this:
6. What was the stat of the day?
That is wild.
The sector — the sphere! — is hitting fairways at a 90.36 % fee at El Cardonal, designed by Tiger Woods. Eight gamers are an ideal 28 of 28. Twenty-four gamers are 27 for 28. The worst participant has hit 20 of 28.
For comparability, getting into the week, the Tour common for fairways hit is 58.07 %. The Tour’s most correct participant off the tee, Russell Henley, is at 71.74 %.
7. What was the quote of the day?
“It’s received to be within the water, proper? Mexican water.” — Kuchar, after his second-straight 65 and a string of fine play in Mexico.
8. Why must you watch tomorrow?
Fireworks. Anybody can win it. Lots of them might use a victory, too.
Golf Channel protection begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
