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
-
European Tour‘Is this where I am going to die?’ Nicolas Colsaerts on kidney disorder battle
The Belgian is the focus of attention this week as he belatedly defends the Cazoo Open de France title he won three years ago.
-
Ryder CupOn this day in 2008: Ryder Cup misery in Louisville for Nick Faldo’s Europe team
Faldo was heavily criticised for his tactics in the closing singles.
-
LIV GolfOpen champion Cameron Smith wins first LIV trophy in just second start
The world number two is the highest-ranked player to join the rebel series.
-
European TourRobert MacIntyre beats Matt Fitzpatrick in play-off to win Italian Open
MacIntyre birdied the first extra hole at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, the venue for next year’s Ryder Cup.
-
European TourMatt Fitzpatrick holds narrow lead ahead of final round at Italian Open
Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai are one shot off the pace.
-
European TourRory McIlroy picks up the pace to claim lead ahead of Matt Fitzpatrick in Rome
McIlroy’s group looked unlikely to complete their second rounds after taking three hours to play nine holes.
-
NewsMatt Fitzpatrick leads way at Italian Open despite ‘inconsistent’ display
The US Open champion held a one-shot lead over fellow Englishman Tom Lewis,
-
European TourRory McIlroy rues a late night until eagle gets him flying in Italian Open
The four-time major winner was only a shot behind leader Matt Fitzpatrick after the first round of the Rome event.
-
European TourRory McIlroy begins Italian Open with superb 67 after recovering from slow start
He kick-started his round by holing out from 115 yards for an eagle on the par-four third.
-
European TourShane Lowry: Golf risks alienating fans with disgusting amount of money involved
The BMW PGA Championship winner insists he was never tempted to join LIV Golf.