Patrick Cantlay surges into five-shot lead at Genesis Invitational
Patrick Cantlay races to the front at Riviera, while Tiger Woods is forced to withdraw.
Patrick Cantlay has opened up a healthy five-stroke lead thru 36 holes at the Genesis Invitational at famed Riviera.
Cantlay, 31, fired a solid second-round 65 to vault to 13-under par for the tournament.
The 2021 FedEx Cup champion is looking to capture his first PGA Tour title since the 2022 BMW Championship.
Cantlay now assumes a commanding five-shot cushion over Jason Day (69), Luke List (69) and Mackenzie Hughes (65).
Cantlay also holds the lead responsibility as a player director on the PGA Tour.
After the second round, Cantlay said:
Cantlay is leading the field in strokes-gained putting and also strokes-gained approach so far this week.
Corey Conners also went round in 65 to move into solo fifth on 7-under par.
Xander Schauffele (66), Tom Hoge (70) and Will Zalatoris (70) are a further shot back on 6-under par.
Zalatoris hit the shot of the day with a hole-in-one on the 14th, which ensured a new car for himself and his caddie.
WILL ZALATORIS HOLE-IN-ONE! @ZalatorisLegion
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) February 16, 2024
Elsewhere, it was another frustrating day on the greens for World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who missed a number of short putts en route to a 70 that positions him in a tie for 11th on 4-under par.
Jordan Spieth had fallen back to 3-under par after a dismal 73 but he was immediately disqualified from the tournament after signing for an incorrect scorecard.
Rory McIlroy struck an improved 66 but still has work to do from 2-under par down in 32nd position.
Tiger Woods was forced to withdraw from the tournament on the 7th hole after a bout of fever.
Woods, 48, was making his first official PGA Tour start in 10 months following his recovery from ankle surgery.
The 15-time major champion is understood to have experienced a fever overnight and felt dizziness on the golf course.
Genesis Invitational R2 Leaderboard
-13 P Cantlay
-8 J Day, L List, M Hughes
-7 C Conners
-6 W Zalatoris, X Schauffele, T Hoge
