Last Updated: November 04, 2023, 03:30 IST
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Kramer Hickok arrived early to scout Tiger Woods’ new course for the PGA Tour and up to now it has paid off. He performed bogeyfree once more Friday with a 5under 67 to set the tempo on the World Wide Technology Championship.
LOS CABOS, Mexico: Kramer Hickok arrived early to scout Tiger Woods’ new course for the PGA Tour and up to now it has paid off. He performed bogey-free once more Friday with a 5-under 67 to set the tempo on the World Wide Technology Championship.
Hickok took care of two of the par 5s and a number of the quick par 4s with a wedge in hand to succeed in 12-under 132, one shot forward of a gaggle that features Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and Monday qualifier Jeffrey Kang.
Cameron Percy, the 49-year-old from Australia already eager about Q-school for the PGA Tour Champions subsequent yr, was 10 pictures worse than his opening spherical however nonetheless in cheap form. He had a 72 and was two pictures behind.
Camilo Villegas was amongst these enjoying within the afternoon at El Cardonal at Diamante, the primary course Woods designed that’s getting used for a PGA Tour occasion.
It’s at a resort, so the design was constructed for enjoyment and technique. But with little wind — the perfect protection on the course within the foothills close to the Pacific Ocean — gamers have been having a straightforward time. The lower was projecting to be at 5-under par.
Hickok continues to be trying to find his first PGA Tour title. He misplaced in an eight-hole playoff to Harris English on the Travelers Championship two years in the past and figured successful was simply across the nook. Instead, he got here into this FedEx Cup Fall occasion at risk of shedding his card at No. 144 within the standings.
“It’s like you keep working, keep working, you don’t see any results, and then finally it’s like, boom, looks like overnight success. That’s sort of what I feel like’s going on now,” Hickok stated.
He left nothing to probability in preparation. Hickok arrived early at a close-by resort with whom he has a relationship and came to visit to El Cardonal, figuring out it was new to everybody. With nobody on the property, he was in a position to spend six or seven hours attending to know the course.
“Everyone’s starting at the same spot, so I just really wanted to get a jump start on that,” he stated.
Aberg, the highest faculty participant final yr, completed at Texas Tech and turned professional in June. Four months later, he was celebrating a Ryder Cup victory together with his European teammates. His card is ready for subsequent yr, although he would like to get a PGA Tour win to go along with a victory on the European tour in Switzerland. He additionally has the Masters in view if he can preserve transferring up the world rating inside the highest 50.
Also at 11-under 133 was Doug Ghim, who’s No. 133 within the FedEx Cup standings. The prime 125 preserve full playing cards for 2024, and there’s solely two extra tournaments after this week.
Most curious is Kang, who acquired in via a Monday qualifier and has traveled the world since leaving USC practically a decade in the past. The PGA Tour is the ninth tour Kang has performed, principally in Canada and numerous circuits in Asia. His lone victory is the Chengdu Championship on the previous PGA Tour China collection in 2018.
He remembers getting about $40,000 for that victory, the most important verify of his profession.
“Hopefully, this is bigger” stated Kang, who made his first lower on the PGA Tour and is in competition going to the weekend.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
