Four-way tie for Congressional lead

Oliver Goss surged into a four-way tie for the lead of the Quicken Loans National after carding a flawless five-under-par 66 on Friday.
The Australian carded five birdies on a difficult Congressional Country Club layout to reach the half-way stage at six-under-par alongside countryman Marc Leishman (66) and Americans Patrick Reed (68) and Ricky Barnes (69).
Goss struggled off the tee for large parts of his round and only hit four of the 14 fairways, but his approach play was superb, reaching 14 of 18 greens in regulation.
“I don’t think I hit one fairway until the 11th… but I scrambled my way pretty good today,” he told PGA Tour Radio.
“I was able to get it up and down (for par) every time I missed the green.
“It’s only my second week as a pro and being on the top of the leaderboard, it just gives you a boost of confidence.
“I didn’t really have too many expectations. After last week, I was a little bit disappointed but I came here pretty fresh and open-minded. And I’m on top of the leaderboard. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Reed, who won the WGC Cadillac Championship in Miami in March, carded three birdies in his final five holes to claim a share of the lead.
“Yesterday I hit a lot of fairways which allowed me to attack the greens but today the tee shots weren’t there so I was playing a lot out of the rough (and) I had to make some smart decisions on key holes,” said Reed.
One stroke behind the leaders were Stuart Appleby (67) and Hudson Swafford (68), while four players were in a tie for seventh on four-under.
They were Morgan Hoffmann (68), Billy Horschel (68), George McNeill (69) and Fredrik Jacobson (71).
Several big names misses the cut at Congressional this week, including Jason Day, Jason Dufner and Tiger Woods, who is playing in his first tournament since March this year.
Woods was predictably rusty and finished on seven-over after rounds of 74 and 75.
Latest
-
News
Golfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European Tour
DP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
News
Rory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The Open
R&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
News
Brooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US Open
Gary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick: A Blade with plenty of support who can really cut it
The Sheffield golfer landed his first major – and first professional win in America – at Brookline on Sunday.