Holmes clings to WGC lead

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March 7, 2015

JB Holmes retained the lead in the WGC Cadillac Championship despite shooting a one-over 73 in Friday’s second round in Florida.

The American came within a shot of equaling the course record at the Trump National Doral with a 10-under 62 on Thursday, but could not replicate that that performance in round two.

Holmes started with a bogey on the first hole, shot two more and five birdies before closing with a double bogey on the par-four 18th.

“I hit a lot of great shots, and you know, just at the end… Like I said, not much difference between this round and Thursday in my opinion,” Holmes told the PGA Tour website.

“Easily could have shot 6 under today, so just shows how difficult this course is and how you can get a couple bad breaks and make some numbers.”

Holmes leads by two shots on the strength of his first round, with fellow American Ryan Moore on seven-under after shooting a 66 on Thursday and a one-under 71 in the second round.

“If you had told me that at the beginning of week I would have a two shot lead after two rounds, I would have said, all right, sounds good,” Holmes said.

“Played great today. Just had a few loose swings that today happened to not go in the right spot.”

New Zealand’s Adam Scott is third on six-under after scores of 70 and 68 in the first two rounds, while Bubba Watson and Henrik Stenson are tied for fourth on four-under shooting a 69 and 71 respectively on Friday.

Holmes wasn’t the only player who failed to crack par on Friday. Dustin Johnson and Alexander Levy, who are tied for sixth with Ryan Palmer, both shot 73.

Rory McIlroy is tied for 11th on one-under after shooting a 73 in the first round and
carding a two-under 70 on Friday.

The four-time major winner cut a frustrated figure in the second round, and tossed his three three-iron into the lake on the par-5 eighth after finding the water with his second shot.