FROM 50th place overnight, Miguel Tabuena improved to a tie for 47th spot after firing a 2-under-par 69 even as the favorites continued their own shootout on Friday in the second round of LIV Golf South Africa.
Tabuena had four birdies against two bogeys, his second-round score better than Friday’s 1-over 72. But his total of 141, 1 under par, barely took him far as he fell 13 shots behind solo leader Bryson DeChambeau whose fire has not diminished after winning last week’s Singapore leg.
DeChambeau sizzled with 6-under-par 65 for a 14 under total, to take a two-shot lead over Brandon Grace and David Puig, both at 12 under. Grace shot a 66 and Puig a 64.
Jon Rahm continued to chase the leader, firing a 66 and was tied for fourth at 11 under along with Dean Burmester (64), Abraham Ancer (65) and Charles Howell. III (68).
The fight is also tight at the bottom with Tabuena trying to push ahead with Michael La Sasso, Anthony Kim and Martin Kaymer tied with him in 47th spot.
One shot back is Phil Mickelson who shot 4-under and moved to even par for the tournament.
Yuka Saso disintegrates, fires 77, misses cut by 2
Yuka Saso never looked so good like she did in the opening holes of the second round Friday at the LPGA Fortinet Founders Cup.
Starting the day at 3 under par, the 24-year-old Fil-Japanese birdied three of her first eight holes and was 6 under, just one-stroke behind leader Hyo Joo Kim, who was 7 under following two early bogeys.
No one could have predicted what happened next.
After pars on her next four holes, the beginning of the end followed. She bogeyed the 13th, then made triple bogey on the 14th. If these were not shocking enough, she double bogeyed her two last holes.
She posted a 44 on the back nine, which is 8 over, her 6 under, which looked strong and majestic earlier, wiped out. She finished the round with a 77 after scoring 69 the day before. She was 2 over for the tournament.
She missed the cut by two.
Another sad and painful day in the golfing life of Yuka Saso.
Last year, she played 18 events and made the cut in just five of them. This year she played five, including the Fortinet, and made the cut in the other four. But only because those four were limited-field events that allowed her to play through the weekend. Her best finish was tied for 33rd.
When she was at the top of her game, she won two US Women's Opens and holds the record for being the youngest with two titles. People missed those days. She probably does, too. Her fans are hoping her game would come back soon.
Meanwhile, Kim leads the tournament by four after shooting a 70 for a total of 133, 11 under par.
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