Hole-in-one sees Si Woo Kim extend his advantage at Texas Open

First-round leader Si Woo Kim turned his one-shot lead into a four-shot lead at the Valero Texas Open on Friday, thanks in no small part to a hole-in-one.
Kim aced the 16th hole at TPC San Antonio on the way to a second consecutive six-under-par 66 and a 12-under-par total.
That was far too hot to handle for anyone else in the field on Friday – even Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth – as the South Korean opened up a sizeable four-shot cushion heading into the weekend.
“The first days here I’ve been feeling good,” Kim said. “I don’t want to change anything.”
Spieth thriving in Texas.
Fowler contending.
Kim's ace and electric finish. pic.twitter.com/LMDP3R75uW— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 6, 2019
Fowler and Spieth find themselves in six-man group tied for second on eight under alongside Corey Conners, Harold Varner III, Adam Schenk and Kyoung-Hoon Lee.
Both men shot 68s for the second day running.
Fowler had actually managed to grab the lead at one point during his round, but consecutive bogeys late in his round saw him fall back.
“Yeah, at 15 and 16, kind of a little unforced errors,” he said. “That happens. I hit some good shots out there and made a few putts. I’m happy with it. Obviously in a good spot going into the weekend.”
Kim’s hole-in-one at the 167-yard 16th took a bounce toward the hole before landing right next to the lip of the cup and dropping in.
“I was trying to hit to the left edge of the bunker, with the wind,”he said. “It was a 9-iron. I saw the bounce, but I never saw it go in.”
Heading into the weekend at the @valerotxopen:
1. Si Woo Kim (-12)
2. @coreconn (-8)
2. @JordanSpieth
2. @HV3_Golf
2. @acschenk1
2. K.H. Lee
2. @RickieFowlerFull leaderboard: https://t.co/vZk1d8dmgT pic.twitter.com/rdu2nr4d8H
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 6, 2019
Lying one shot behind the group tied for second are Byeong Hun An (68), Matt Jones (68), Rory Sabbatini (68), Scott Stallings (69), Brian Stuard (70), Josh Teater (68) and Jim Knous (67).
Graeme McDowell, fresh from his first victory in four years at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship, follows on six under alongside Scott Brown, Hank Lebioda, Ryan Moore and Jhonattan Vegas.
Latest
-
Ryder Cup
New Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald motivated by ‘bitter’ memories of 2021 defeat
Stenson was stripped of the role for breaking his contract by joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series.
-
Ryder Cup
The task facing Luke Donald after replacing Henrik Stenson
Stenson was appointed on March 15 and said he was fully committed to a role before signing with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series.
-
Ryder Cup
Luke Donald named Europe’s Ryder Cup captain
Donald replaces Henrik Stenson after he was stripped of the role.
-
PGA Tour
Tony Finau claims second straight PGA Tour victory
The American won the 3M Open in his previous outing.
-
News
Henrik Stenson cushions Ryder Cup blow with £3.6m debut win in LIV Golf
The Swede was stripped of his role as Europe captain after joining the Saudi-backed breakaway tour.
-
News
Former Masters champion Bubba Watson becomes latest player to join LIV Golf
The left-hander is currently sidelined by a knee injury and is not expected to play until next season,
-
Ryder Cup
Luke Donald tipped to replace Henrik Stenson as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain
The Swede lost the job 127 days after his appointment following his decision to join the LIV Golf series.
-
News
Max Homa: Tiger Woods now understands the respect he commands from his peers
Homa has made no secret of his admiration for Woods.
-
Ryder Cup
Bernard Gallacher fears Greg Norman is not the man for compromise with LIV Golf
Players who have resigned from the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf will not be eligible for next year’s Ryder Cup.
-
LPGA Tour
Brooke Henderson takes two-shot lead into final round of Evian Championship
South Korea’s Ryu So-yeon climbed into outright second place on 15 under.