Despite 73 Holmes Still Leads at WGC-Cadillac Championship


J.B. Holmes wasn't nearly as hot as he was Thursday during the opening round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship. But neither was anyone else on the tough Blue Monster course at Doral.

After carding a record-setting 10-under 62 on the revamped course at Trump National Doral, the 32-year-old Kentuckian posted a 1-over 73 yet still leads the $9.25 million PGA Tour event in Miami by two strokes.

Holmes, who began the day with a four-stroke lead over Ryan Moore, carded five birdies but also had four bogeys and a double on the difficult par-4 18th.

The three-time Tour winner heads into the weekend in the no-cut event at 9-under 135, two strokes ahead of Moore, who shot a 71, and three in front of Adam Scott, who had the low round of the day, a 68.

Five behind Holmes are No. 2-ranked Bubba Watson (69) and No. 3 Henrik Stenson (71) in the tournament, which boasts a field with the top-50 players in the world.

Scott is playing in his first event since he tied for second at the Australian PGA Championship in early December. While on the extended leave his wife Marie Kojzar delivered the couple's first baby in February. Also, the 34-year-old from Adelaide is using a short putter for the first time in years in preparation for a rules change that will ban anchored putters next January.

Though the winds were less blustery than in the first round, the golf course is still playing very hard for the game's best players. (When told on Thursday what Holmes shot, Irishman Shane Lowery quipped, "You're joking. Did he walk in after 15? He must've hit his drive at 9 and walked over water.")

Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, echoed the thoughts of the elite field when he commented after his round, "Even with less wind this course plays really tough. You really have to play well to get around here," said Scott, who carded six birdies and two bogeys.

As for his regulation-sized putter, which has been a huge topic this week, Scott added, "It's a slight adjustment. I putted most of my career and all of my time as an amateur using a short putter. Hopefully I'll pick it up quick and get it going."

Trailing Holmes by six strokes are Americans Dustin Johnson (73) and Ryan Palmer (70), and Frenchman Alexander Levy (73). Tied for ninth at 142 are Welshman Jamie Donaldson (72) and Spaniard Sergio Garcia (69).

The only other players in the field under par through 36 holes - at 143 - are former major champions Webb Simpson (69), Jim Furyk (72), Charl Schwartzel (72) and Rory McIlroy (70) along with Lee Westwood (72), Brooks Koepka (74) and John Senden (70).

No. 1-ranked McIlroy, who missed the cut in his first U.S. tournament of the year at the Honda Classic last week, went out in even-par 36 after three birdies and a trio of bogeys. On the home half the 25-year-old Northern Irishman improved with three birdies and a bogey to get in at 2-under.

While in the midst of his front-nine struggles, McIlroy grew so frustrated that, after he splashed his approach on the par-5 eighth, he tossed the offending 3-iron into the water hazard. "Felt good at the time," McIlroy told reporters.

"I don't feel good about it now. It's frustrating when you feel your game is close and you keep hitting shots like that in the water, things I rarely do."

The runaway winner of last year's player-of-the-year honors on both the PGA and European tours thanks to two major victories noted he's never thrown a club like that, saying "never went at it that hard. I just let frustration get the better of me.

"It was heat of the moment, and if it had been any other club, I probably wouldn't have, but I didn't need a 3-iron for the rest of the round, so I thought why not."

Defending champion Patrick Reed followed up his opening 71 with a 73 and shares 18th at even-par with Charley Hoffman, Morgan Hoffman (no relation), Gary Woodland and Jordan Spieth.

Other scores included a second straight 74 by five-time major winner Phil Mickelson.

For all the scores, visit http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/cadillac-championship/leaderboard.html.