A quick begin and quick end noticed Patrick Rodgers comply with up his opening-round 66 with a second-round 67 on the 2023 Texas Open earlier than play was suspended Friday on account of darkness. Making two birdies in his opening three holes, Rodgers fell in impartial when he discovered himself even par for the day via the twelfth. With quite a few gamers making runs on the lead, Rodgers was the one to win the dash as 5 birdies in his closing six holes pushed him to 11 beneath for the event and three strokes away from his closest competitor, Corey Conners.
Rodgers has set himself up superbly to do one thing he has not completed in his earlier 234 on the PGA Tour: win. 3 times a runner-up in his profession, the previous Stanford standout must cope with nerves, Masters aspirations and the Texas winds if he’s to enter the winner’s circle for the primary time.
Conners, the 2019 Texas Open winner, will purpose to upend Rodgers over the ultimate 36 holes to assert his second profession victory and head into Augusta Nationwide with all the boldness on the earth. Already within the discipline for the Masters, Conners is enjoying with home cash this week and will roll over his success in San Antonio into extra of the identical in Augusta, Georgia.
The chief
1. Patrick Rodgers (-11): It has been a medical first 36 holes for Rodgers as he has signed for rounds of 66-67 with out a lot stress. He leads the sphere in strokes gained tee to inexperienced and strokes gained strategy, however that is worlds away from what he has been doing in 2023. He entered the week having missed six of eight cuts and and not using a top-10 end for the reason that RSM Traditional within the fall. It will likely be attention-grabbing if he has endurance on this leaderboard over the weekend or if that is simply one other flash within the pan.
“[Approach play] been an enormous space of focus for me. It has been what’s conserving me from enjoying higher golf, and yeah, I am actually proud that the work that I have been placing in week in and week out even when it wasn’t paying off on the golf course,” stated Rodgers. “Now it is beginning to and I am proud of the persistence that I’ve confirmed to get right here.”
Different contenders
T2. Corey Conners, Roberto Diaz (-8)
T4. Michael Thompson, Brendon Todd (-7)
T6. Eric Cole, Thomas Detry, Matt Kuchar (-6)
T9. Chris Kirk, Michael Kim, Peter Malnati, Michael Kim, Luke Record, Ben Martin, Nico Echavarria, Augusto Nunez, Harry Higgs (-5)
That is giving severe Honda Traditional vibes. Between Kirk and Cole, who battled down the stretch at PGA Nationwide final month, and former Honda Traditional winners Thompson and Harrington, the parallels are obvious. Nonetheless, as an alternative of wanting again, let’s as an alternative sit up for subsequent week and Augusta Nationwide. Conners has been somewhat pedestrian to start his 2023 as he’s and not using a top-10 end, however anticipate that to come back to an finish both this week or subsequent. The Canadian has notched finishes of T10, T8 and T6 in his final three Masters and is trending in the direction of the same final result within the yr’s first main championship.
“It has been just a little bit inconsistent,” stated Conners. “I really feel like I have been lacking sure elements of my sport every week, whether or not I am not hitting it nice or the brief sport’s form of let me down. I have never actually been in a position to put all of it collectively. It has been a little bit of a wrestle, however I’ve labored arduous and I’ve confidence in my sport. It is only a matter of time earlier than issues form of get into place.”
Rickie Fowler’s weekend outlook
Fowler’s Masters aspirations have been the story heading into the week however could also be an afterthought getting into the weekend as he stands at 1 beneath and 10 strokes off the lead. The five-time PGA Tour winner wants so as to add a sixth trophy to his mantle to earn an invite to the Masters for the primary time in two years.
Fowler entered the week tenth in strokes gained strategy and placing; he was additionally forward of the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Sam Burns in complete strokes gained per spherical. After struggling in his first spherical, he bounced again in Spherical 2 earlier than some late points off the tee. By means of 36 holes, he sits inside the highest 10 in strokes gained tee to inexperienced however outdoors the highest 120 placing.
2023 Texas Open up to date odds, picks
Odds through Caesars Sportsbook
- Patrick Rodgers: 12/5
- Corey Conners: 4-1
- Brendon Todd: 17/2
- Matt Kuchar: 19/2
- Thomas Detry: 16-1
- Chris Kirk: 22-1
- Roberto Diaz: 25-1
- Michael Thompson: 25-1
- Eric Cole: 28-1
The hypothetical lead could also be 8 beneath as Rodgers has struggled to shut on this place earlier than. With this in thoughts, Taylor (35-1) at 4 beneath and nonetheless needing to play the par-5 18th stands out as the play. The Canadian arrived to TPC San Antonio fifth in complete strokes gained for the reason that begin of the calendar yr which included a improbable battle in opposition to world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler on the WM Phoenix Open. A confirmed winner on the PGA Tour, Taylor has a sensible alternative to nab victory No. 3 and the ultimate invitation into the Masters subsequent week.