Pavin rockets into Cap Cana lead
US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin leads a Champions Tour event for the first time at the Cap Cana Championship.
US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin leads a Champions Tour event for the first time after firing a blistering course-record 63 in the second round of the Cap Cana Championship on Saturday.
Pavin leads by one shot from former Open Champion Nick Price and by two from former Masters champions Fred Couples and Larry Mize after shooting nine birdies in a bogey-free round that took his tournament total to a 13-under 131 at the Punta Espada Golf Club in the Dominican Republic.
His 63 broke the record set here last year Bernhard Langer by a shot.
On a windless day, the second in a row, at least forty players found themselves under par on Saturday night in this 54-hole event.
Pavin, in his first season in 50-and-over golf, seized his chance and used the perfect conditions to rocket to the top of the leaderboard from a seventh place tie after the first round.
“Without the wind, you can shoot a good score,” he said of his lowest core since his 61 in the first round of the 2006 US Bank Championship on the regular US PGA Tour.
He won there and clearly hopes to win here as well.
“Today I made only two putts of any length at all.”
Pavin didn’t need to make any long putts. His iron play was so good he made most of his birdie putts look easy.
“I made a couple 10-to-12 footers early in the round and that helped (my confidence),” he said of birdies at Nos. 1, 5, 8 and 9.
“I can’t complain.”
Price found that using a belly putter for the third straight week was the missing piece in the puzzle of why his game initially seemed to deteriorate when he first joined the challenge tour two years ago.
It helped give him a faultless card that included six birdies, all from inside 10 feet.
“The last two days and the three days (at Allianz Championship) are as comfortable as I’ve ever been with the putter,” the three-time major champion said
“I’m starting to play like I can again and there are no (putting) surprises coming along. It’s given me a lot more confidence.”
Latest
-
NewsRory McIlroy goes back to happy hunting ground as he looks for a return to form
The former world number one is 15th in the rankings as he prepares for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.
-
NewsRory McIlroy ‘very much against’ breakaway golf circuit
The Northern Irishman said he had first been contacted about the idea in 2014.
-
NewsTributes planned to mark 10-year anniversary of Seve Ballesteros’ death
The great died at the age of 54 following a battle with cancer.
-
NewsTop players chase records not dollars – Webb Simpson dismisses breakaway plan
Simpson said there were ‘too many unknowns’ for a Premier Golf League to work.
-
Matt CooperCan Quail Hollow work its magic on Rory McIlroy again and revive his flagging form?
The Northern Irishman has a strong relationship with the host of this week’s Wells Fargo Championship.
-
NewsNicolai Von Dellingshausen out in front in Tenerife
Von Dellingshausen added a second round of 62 to his opening 64 to reach 16 under par.
-
Dave TindallIs Bryson DeChambeau a good bet to defend his US Open title in June?
Golf’s biggest hitter devised the perfect strategy to win at Winged Foot – but can he do the same at Torrey Pines?
-
NewsJohn Catlin one-shot off lead at Tenerife Open after threatening to record 59
The American had covered his first 13 holes in 10 under but finished with an opening round of 63.
-
NewsThe Most Famous Golfers Who Love to Take a Chance
Over the years, there have been some professional golfers more inclined to take those risks than others.
-
NewsPaul Casey out to join ‘elite company’ with hat-trick at Valspar Championship
Casey says he is ‘raring to go’ as he eyes his third successive victory in the event.