Pacific Palisades, CA – Even with a sunny but chilly first two days of the Genesis Invitational 36 hole leader Max Homa at 10-under 132. The question is who will make the cut, due to darkness play was halted and several players will finish Saturday morning with a projected cutline +1.
The field is right on Homa’s heels with Keith Mitchell, Jon Rahm, and Lee Hodges just one shot behind. The golfers who have had best scores today have been good on the greens putting.
On 13th hole Homa hit a laser on the green to drop another birdy keeping his round going strong on the back nine.
“I’m not really sure why I play so well in California. Obviously there’s some comfortability with the grass and how far the ball goes,” said Homa, “I can rest on the fact I’m playing great golf and I’m just going to try and do that for two more days.”
Rahm got a big break on 17th hole with his second shot going wide get the perfect bounce off the grandstands back towards the green passing the sand trap to within 3 feet from the hole. He dropped his eagle to move him temporarily tied for the lead at 10 under but gave one back on 18th.
“Obviously I got very fortunate to get that bounce not only to go on the green, but to have
basically three feet straight up the hill. That’s arguably the best bounce I’ve seen in person
my whole golf career and it would be hard to beat in the future,” said Rahm, “For those wondering, no, did I not call bank. I don’t think anybody calls bank in that situation.”
Even with familiar faces on the top there are 10 players with 5 shots of the lead so this next 54 leader can change.
Tournament host Tiger Woods has been feeling the heat on and off the course. With the cut line right on his number of +1. Either way he would be around for the weekend but he will tee it back up Saturday and look to get his putter back on track.
“I did not putt well today, I blocked a lot of putts early and this is probably the highest score I could have shot today,” said Woods, “Just didn’t make the putts early and the middle part of the round when I had those opportunities.”
One of the other exciting shots was on 17th Xander Schauffele holes it if off the pole for an eagle on the par 5 to hang around for a great weekend with a great field for the Genesis.
