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Brooks Koepka well placed for second win in three events, Rory McIlroy six shots off lead
Image: Brian Rothmuller
A MONTH after snapping a second set of irons in frustration at his poor form, Brooks Koepka is in pole position for a second win in three events in the WGC-Workday Championship.
Koepka’s second round of 66 was marred only by a bogey on the 18th, but left the four-time major winner on 11 under par, a shot ahead of US PGA champion Collin Morikawa, Billy Horschel and Australia’s Cameron Smith.
Joint overnight leaders Matt Fitzpatrick and Webb Simpson were a shot further back on nine under alongside Tony Finau, with defending champion Patrick Reed and Kevin Kisner another stroke adrift.
Joaquin Niemann boosted by cousin s health ahead of Genesis
Joaquin Niemann at the 2021 Sony Open in Hawaii. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – Joaquin Niemann’s last two starts produced confidence-boosting runner-up results, but it is a victory of sorts from off the golf course that has the young, Chilean star fired up at The Genesis Invitational.
Niemann’s quest to help raise over $2.1 million for treatment for his infant cousin Rafita Calderon, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, was successful and the youngster was administered his first dose this week back in Chile.
The International Presidents Cup star first brought the plight of his young relative to light late last year when pledging $5,000 for every birdie and $10,000 for every eagle in addition to his earnings at The RSM Classic, which totaled $152,450. He also donated his winnings from the Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN ($65,262.85).
Bogey Avoidance
Recommended Plays
Justin Thomas ($10,700)
Thomas comes into Riveria hoping to improve upon his runner-up finish in 2019 and win his first Genesis Invitational championship. Due to the long, challenging holes on this track, approach play is crucial. J.T. led the PGA in strokes gained: approach in 2020 and has top-10 in bogey avoidance. He performs excellently on Par 4s between 450-500 yards and will see seven of them this week in California. Thomas has not finished worse than T13 in seven starts this season and is knocking on the door of a win.
Bryson DeChambeau ($10,100)
DeChambeau has improved each time he has teed it up at Riveria. His last three performances at this event include a T41, a T15, and a T5. He led the entire field in strokes gained: tee-to-green last year and took advantage of his distance off the tee to cut corners. DeChambeau ranked fifth in 2020 in Par 4 efficiency on holes between 450-500 and will have no problem reaching the three Par 5s in t
Birdie-or-Better
Jon Rahm ($11,200)
It’s almost a sure thing for Rahm to finish in the top-10 each time he tees it up of late. His last four starts include three straight T7s and a T2. He didn’t have his best stuff in California last week but still found a way to stay in the mix. Now Rahm goes to an event where he placed T5 in 2015 and finished T11 or better in the last three years.
Xander Schauffele ($11,000)
Schauffele had all facets of his game working last week at the Farmers Insurance Open. Schauffele ranked top-10 in strokes gained: putting, strokes gained: approach and strokes gained: tee-to-green. This is a great sign of things to come in the desert this week. He has three consecutive top-20s at this event and knows his way around the course.