Stricker opens gap in Hyundai field
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions | Round Two | 08 Jan 2012
Steve Stricker was the leading world ranked player heading into this week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions and given the manner in which he has played the opening two rounds of the event at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort, he could well emerge with a significant jump in the ranking ladder.
Stricker added a stunning second round of 63 to open up a five shot break over Webb Simpson with a further shot back to another hot golfer on day two, Kevin Na, whose round of 64 moved him up 11 places to 3rd position.
“Well, it was a special day,” said Stricker. “You know, when you can shoot 10 under a lot of good things have to happen. I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I made a lot of putts. I just played consistent. I never really got into any trouble.
“It was just a good, solid round of golf. We’re only halfway through, so I’ve got still a lot of work left to do. I realize that. So I’ve just got to come out tomorrow with the same mentality that I’ve had every other day, and that’s just to take one shot at a time and keep plugging away.”
When asked if it was possible for him to match the 31 under total of Ernie Els’ in 2003, Stricker responded, “It doesn’t enter my mind, and I really hate putting numbers on anything. I just go out and take what it gives me, really, if I’m feeling good, if I’m aggressive and can take advantage of some holes out there.
“I really just get into the situation at hand and go from there, and that’s what I did well today. I kind of ran with it. I felt good. I started making some birdies and I was patient when I wasn’t making some. So it was good, and that’s what you have to do when you get it going is just kind of keep it going, get on a roll and keep it going.”
Simpson begins round three five shot behind a player ranked four places above him in the world ranking but is not too fazed by the deficit. “Yeah, he’s proved himself over and over again, especially here the last five, six years. He’s such a great player. He’s a good friend. He’s given me a lot of great advice over these last couple years and got to know him well at Presidents Cup.
“If I’m playing with him, I’m not sure if I am, but I hope I am. He’s great to play with, easy to play with, and hopefully I can put a little pressure on him.”
Na produced a miraculous finish to his round with eagles at the 17th and 18th holes to jump from obscurity to contention. He holed a five iron from 219 yards at the 17th then at the par five last he hit a three wood to ten feet and holed that.
Na is now working with Australian coach Dale Lynch and they spent time together in the off season. “I’ve had some great coaches along my career, Butch Harmon, some of my local coaches, Don Brown, Craig Chapman. I’ve had some great coaches," said Na.
“But I always struggled with the driver. I was searching for something to do for me to drive it better. I mean, I’m not a long hitter, and I wasn’t the straightest hitter. But once I feel like I got off the tee, I felt like the rest I did pretty well, especially around the greens.
“Honestly I was tired of driving it poorly and I worked with Dale last year, I was driving it really poorly last year, and I met him at the Masters, and he helped me out. I really liked what he had to say. I looked at my swing before the Masters and now, and my backswing is totally in a different position, and because I think my backswing is in a different position, I think my long game is getting better.”
Scotland’s Martin Laird shares 4th position with the defending champion Jonathan Byrd.
Australia’s only player in the select winners’ only field, Aaron Baddeley, recovered from his opening round of 75 with a round of 68 today to move into 10th position.
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