Thursday’s first round included eight birdies and an eagle, and he credited a sizzling putter that had never been better in his life.
Friday’s second round? He made one birdie, had three bogeys and a double bogey at the par-4 second hole. His lone birdie was at the watery par-5 18th midway through his round after he started on No. 10.
But his 36-hole score of 7-under-par 135 made the cut, putting him right beside Rickie Fowler and U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland. Former champs Jhonatton Vegas and Cameron Champ made the cut by a shot.
Among those who didn’t make the minus-5 cut line: former 3M Open champ Tony Finau, Haotong Li, Webb Simpson, Keith Mitchell, Zach Johnson, Sahith Theegala, Si Woo Kim, Maverick McNealy and former 3M Open champ Lee Hodges.
North Oaks’ Frankie Capan III withdrew from the tournament, citing a wrist injury, after he shot a 7-over 78 in Thursday’s first round.
Others with Minnesotan connections: New Mexico golfer Carson Herron, Tim Herron’s son, shot 72 and 70 and missed the cut playing on a sponsor’s exemption.
Fargo’s Tom Hoge shot 74 and 78 and was last among golfers who finished.
