Haas’ run continues at Torrey Pines
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2011 Farmers Insurance Open | Round Two | 29 Jan 2011
One of the biggest improvers on the PGA Tour during the past twelve months, Bill Haas, has continued his great start to 2011 by leading at the halfway mark of the Farmers insurance Open at Torrey Pines in California.
Haas recovered from an opening bogey on the south Course in round two and although he bogeyed a hole late in his round he had done enough in between in his round of 66 to establish a two shot lead over what is a quality field.
Haas was twice a winner on the PGA Tour in 2010 and went very close to adding his third PGA Tour title last week in Palm Springs when he was beaten in a playoff while defending his Bob Hope Classic title. He had also finished inside the top ten at the Hyundai Championship in Hawaii three weeks ago so is one of the PGA Tour’s most in form players in recent times.
Haas leads by two over Anthony Kim with a group of seven players one shot further back. That group includes three time winner of this event, Phil Mickelson, defending champion Ben Crane, Sweden’s Frederik Jacobson, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan and John Daly.
The surprise has been Daly. Although a former winner of this tournament (2004) it has been a long time since John Daly has recorded event a top ten on the PGA Tour and for him to be in contention after a run of missed cuts in recent starts augurs well for him.
Six time winner of this event, Tiger Woods faltered a little after a good start but a brilliant second to the par five 18th set up an easy two putt birdie and at 6 under he is only five behind Haas and three behind the second placed Kim.
The leaderboard is very congested the halfway mark but a return to the more demanding South Course for the final 36 holes might see a bit of separation develop amongst the field.
The leading Australian at the 36 hole mark is last year’s joint runner-up Marc Leishman who shares 17th place with Woods at 5 under. Matt Jones is 31st, Steve Bowditch 45th with Greg Chalmers, Jarrod Lyle and Stuart Appleby just making the cut in 68th position.
