Patrick Cantlay shoots 129 for two rounds and takes a five-shot lead into the weekend at Riviera

The marquee groups playing early were Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, Max Homa & Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick. McIlroy started on three over, Homa on two over and Clark even. McIlroy needed a good second round especially with their been a halfway cut. Scheffler was on three under, Morikawa one under and Fitzpatrick four over.

McIlroy’s drive on hole one came to rest in the first cut of rough and had 209 yards for his second shot. McIlroy found the par five green in two shots and was successful in tapping in a short-range birdie putt. Clark held an incredible 45 foot putt for eagle hole one. Homa also achieved a birdie which meant this group played the first in a combined four under. McIlroy managed to escape hole two with a par and reached two under after three holes. 2021 Genesis Invitational winner Homa was on a mission to make the cut as he shot a front nine of four under. McIlroy finished the front nine with six pars to shoot 33. Clark made a great birdie at the iconic sixth hole to shoot a front nine of one under.

Morikawa’s second shot from 215 yards found the green at hole one and held a six-foot birdie putt. Scheffler started with four pars before chipping in for birdie at the fifth hole to reach four under. Scheffler made it two birdies in a row after a perfect tee shot at hole six to three feet. Fitzpatrick gave himself hope of making the cut with two early birdies but shot a front nine of one over. Morikawa finished the front nine with a birdie on eight and a bogey on nine to shoot 34.

The other big early group on day two was Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala and Xander Schauffele. Schauffele & Fleetwood began their second round on one under. And Theegala one over. Schauffele played the front nine in one under. Fleetwood hit a sensational second shot from 167 yards at the extremely difficult second hole and held a six-foot putt for birdie. Fleetwood made his second birdie of the front nine at hole six.

Will Zalatoris was on five under and both Jason Day & Luke List on six under. Zalatoris’s front nine included two birdies and three bogeys to shoot 36. Day achieved an eagle and two birdies to shoot a front nine of 32. List made it two birdies in four holes at 245 yard par three to shoot a front nine of 33.

List made one birdie, one bogey and seven pars on the back nine to shoot a round of 69. Day started the back nine with a birdie on hole 10 but followed it up at 11 with a three-putt par from 50 feet. Zalatoris’s highlight of day two was an extraordinary hole in one at 184 yard par three 14th hole. Zalatoris shot a second round of 70. Day made three bogeys on the back nine to shoot 69.

Scheffler held his third shot from off the green for eagle on 11 to reach seven under. McIlroy hit an exceptional shot from 237 yards and held his eagle putt to reach one under after 11 holes. Northern Irishman played 15 and 16 in five over on day one were as he managed to par both holes on Friday. McIlroy’s round of 66 included five birdies and 13 pars. Homa made four birdies and two bogeys on his back nine to shoot an impressive round of six under. Clark shot a back nine of three over to miss the cut.

Scheffler dropped two shots at the extremely difficult 15th and had a disappointing par on 17. Scheffler shot a round of 70. Morikawa made one birdie and dropped three shots on his back nine to shoot a round of 71. Fitzpatrick missed the halfway cut on four over. Fleetwood’s back nine highlight was a birdie at 15. Fleetwood finished with two excellent birdies at 17 and 18 to shoot 68.

Schauffele played his back nine in four under to shoot 66. Theegala played his back nine in one under to shoot 69. Seamus Power had an impressive round of three under to make the halfway cut.

The afternoon big groups were Tiger Woods one over, Justin Thomas one over, Gary Woodland one under and Jordan Spieth five under, Patrick Cantlay seven under, Tom Kim two under. Spieth missed his eagle putt but settled for an opening birdie. Woods & Woodland achieved birdies at hole one but a frustrating par for Thomas. Cantlay got off to a fantastic start with an eagle at the first hole. Cantlay was on nine under after four holes.

Thomas played his first six holes in three over. Thomas gave himself encouragement of making the cut with a birdie at hole eight to shoot a front nine of 37. Spieth achieved three birdies in a front nine of 33 which included a chip in at hole five. Woods made two bogeys in a row at the fourth and fifth hole as he dropped back to one over. A fantastic par by Woods on six but it was his last hole as he withdrew due to flu symptoms.

Cantlay made a birdie at hole eight to shoot a front nine of three under. Kim’s front nine of one under included two birdies and one bogey. Woodland shot a front nine of one over. On day one Australian Cameron Davis shot a remarkable round of 65. Davis shot a front nine of three under. Davis’s chances of winning came to an end as he made five bogeys in a row to shoot a back nine of 41.

An extremely poor start on the back nine for Spieth as he played holes 10,11 and 12 in 15 shots. Cantlay missed the fairway at 11 but hit a superb third shot and held his birdie putt to reach 11 under. Cantlay hit a unbelievable second shot from the rough and held his birdie putt to play 15 holes in five under. Kim made three birdies on his back nine to shoot 69. Cantlay made his sixth birdie of day two on 17 to shoot 65. Spieth finished with a double bogey to shoot 73.

Thomas made birdies at 16 and 18 but missed the cut on three over. Woodland played his back nine in level par to shoot 72. A exceptional 65 by Corey Conners and 66for Cameron Young. Hovland made three birdies and one bogey in his round of 69.