XANDER SCHAUFFELE BOOSTED his chances of securing the final berth on the US Ryder Cup team, firing a six-under par 64 Friday to seize a two-stroke lead after the second round of the PGA BMW Championship.
The 24-year-old American opened with four birdies in his first seven holes at Aronimink and stood on 13-under 127 after 36 holes in the final playoff event before the season-ending Tour Championship.
England’s Justin Rose was two strokes adrift after shooting 63 Friday with a pack on 130 including Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, Sweden’s Alex Noren and Americans Rickie Fowler and Keegan Bradley.
Schauffele, last year’s PGA Tour Rookie of the Year after wins at the Tour Championship and Greenbrier, opened with a 63 to stand a stroke behind first-round co-leaders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
“It was nice to back up the 63 with a 64, something I’ve never done in my career so good timing for that,” Schauffele said.
Both Woods and McIlroy faded. Woods closed with back-to-back bogeys, missing a six-foot par on 18, in shooting 70 and dropping to a share of 12th. McIlroy managed only three birdies, seven fewer than Thursday, for a 69 to share seventh on 131.
Schauffele, the British Open and Players Championship runner-up, improved his case for being given the final captain’s pick for the American squad in the Ryder Cup showdown against Europe at the end of the month in France.
But he knows that rival Tony Finau, who matched his 64 to stand on 132 alongside Woods, is also shooting for a Ryder Cup pick from US captain Jim Furyk.
I have thought a lot more about the Ryder Cup the past couple of weeks and I’m sort of in a position where I feel like a win is the only way I’d even be in consideration,” Schauffele said.
“Tony (Finau) is the guy right now. He just shot 64 as well. He’s not making it easy on anyone else trying to get on that team. So hats off to him for playing really well.”
Schauffele began the week 41st in season points and needing a jump into the top 30 to qualify for a chance at defending his Tour Championship crown in two weeks in Atlanta.
“I’m very aware of where I stood coming into the week,” Schauffele said. “Obviously 41st isn’t what we wanted coming into the week but, you know, something good here would definitely help.”
He’s now projected to jump into sixth on the points table, one spot outside the positions that would give him the $10 million season playoff prize if he could repeat his victory.
Rose birdied three of his first four holes in a round of 63.
- Tiger ‘didn’t make any putts’ -
Woods, who managed an eagle and seven birdies on day one, could muster just three birdies but undid all his good work with his closing bogeys.
I didn’t make any putts,” Woods said after a round that included 33 putts, six more than Thursday.
“I hit a lot of beautiful putts that were on top of the edge and then obviously hit a couple bad ones on the last hole. Looked like all the putts were going to go in but they didn’t go in today.”
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Have to say Kenny saying Seamus was in the best period of his career was a bit disconcerting, because he really is far from it and that statement indicates he’s probably starting. Maybe the solution would be to play the back three we have here, but play Omabamidele as a more defensive oriented wing back to add a bit of pace to cover Mbappe. We’ll likely have most Joy on the break anyway so, playing Ogbene down the right side of the forward line would make sense as he runs into the channel a lot and could take up the space that would be vacated by Omabamidele not pushing as far forward. Horses for courses as they say. In reality though we’re unlikely to get anything out of this game, because are just that good, so hope the usual doom merchants around here don’t start the usual pile on after a loss. The team is growing, we need support not this constant negativity.
@Zim Zimma: There are no doom merchants as you imply, people that know the game inside out are quiet fully aware that we simply do not have the talent and all this tripe about how young the squad are and give them a chance simply doesn’t wash. The sight of Stephen Kenny jumping about and celebrating after Ireland scored the winning goal in a friendly game at home to a team ranked 133 in the world just about sums it all up.
The lack of game time for these players will be shown up now against the French.
Collins especially. Kept running out with the ball from the back.he was dropped by wolves because of that He’s not match sharp.
The Doherty has been glued to the bench since he joined athletico
It be a miracle to get a draw, it’s possible if France have an off night but looking how they played last night be a tall order.
Think if your asking Coleman to cover the right wing versus Hernandez and Mbappe your asking for trouble. Have to double up on that side.
Alot of people questioning Coleman’s selection. But if we are to have any hope of a result in this match, a lot of things would have to happen. One of them would have to be a vintage display from Coleman. Any decent result Everton have managed recently, he’s been key.
Bazunu looks all over the place at Southampton at the minute, would start Kelleher, doesn’t make the same mistakes as Bazunu at the minute
@Lord Lurgan: well bazunu has played football this season kelleher hasn’t.
Kelleher needs to be playing first team football. Then he can be the irish number 1
@Lord Lurgan: How could Kelliher make a mistake he does not play
No
No hope for this team
@Mark Dunne: Do you work for the Samaritans?
Eire team needs to gather the midfield as Argentina Did, attack the flanks
My team
Bazunu
Coleman
Egan
ODara
Doherty
Knight
Cullen
Collins
McClean
Smallbone
Ferguson since Idah is not ready
Doesn’t matter which team we put out, they’ll hammer us. Let’s hope the Dutch don’t get any better than they played last night and we might have a chance against them. Was watching the Greece game aswell and they’ll be tough to get points from. So all-in-all we’re pretty-much bunched. COYBIG!
@Terry Fagan: No reason why we can’t give the french a good game. Holland were awful last night.
@Louis Jacob: Let’s hope so!
Good team. Totally agree about Ogbene on current form. He’s more similar to Mitoma at Brighton than Obafemi, a more direct runner. Smallbone as an option for the second half is good too. Not sure what to do with Doherty but I guess he has to start.
I agree with this team. Up front I like Ogbene’s attitude on the pitch and for that reason combined with his pace and strength I’d like to see him start
Think smallbone played too well against latvia to not start