Updates After 36 Holes at Riviera

Patrick Cantlay 

Cantlay is putting on an absolute clinic at Riviera Golf Course as he leads after the cut. In round 1, he shot a 64 -7; in round 2, he shot a 65 -6 to sit at -13 through 36 holes. He has a five-stroke lead over three people who are tied for second place (Jason Day, Mackenzie Hughes, and Luke List). 

Cantlay began the week on fire with five birdies in 8 holes. He started day 2 with an Eagle on the opening Par 5 and closed out his second 18 holes with four birdies. The only square on Cantlay’s scorecard came in round 1 hole 16 par 3 where he made a bogey. 

Cantlay will tee it up with List in the final pairing at 2:40. 

Jordan Speith 

Speith has been DQ from the tournament due to signing an incorrect scorecard.  

Speith was keeping pace with Cantlay in the first round as he matched his five birdies through the first 8 holes. He closed out the opening round with a 66 -5 to place in the top-5. 

However, day 2 would wreak havoc. Speith marked down a 3 on the 245-yard Par 3 fourth hole when he really got a 4. After his tee shot went into the rough Speith would chip close but miss the short par putt and then he would tap in his bogey. Speith owned up to his mistake and said he went through the process of trying to get everything in order. 

The second round was a rollercoaster for Speith. He made four birdies, four bogies, and a round-ending double bogey to finish day 2 at +2. 

Speith has been playing some solid golf this season and has been electric with his short game. He finished T6 last week at the Phoenix Open and was poised to make another run at Riviera. 

I think this scorecard rule is stupid. Sometimes players forget what they got or they just write the wrong number down by accident. Yes, they are professionals and there are scoreboards all around them, but sometimes you get too locked in. Do NFL quarterbacks count their yards mid-game? Do NBA players keep track of their assists and then report how many they got at the end of the night? Let the golfers golf and let the scorers score. 

Tiger Woods 

Woods withdraws after 24 holes. Woods was suffering from back spasms in the opening round, but what ultimately set him over the edge was an illness. Woods had flu-like symptoms- fever, dizziness, and dehydration.  

Woods went +1 after the first day and was +1 through 6 holes on the second day before withdrawing. 

It was nice seeing him back in action, but hopefully, we can see him for an entire tournament when he is fully healthy.