23 February 2019: Friday was fraught with danger for an embattled Shubhankar Sharma, fighting with himself as much as he was battling the course at Club de Golf Chapultepec. The 109th ranked Indian shot six over 77, largely damaged by a rough ride between the 14th and 18th holes. Dustin Johnson moved two strokes clear at the top with another spotless effort, this one a 67 to reach the weekend at 11-under 131.
Rory McIlroy settled for a sedate 70 to add to his first round 63, nine under through 36 holes. Matt Kuchar joined him in second, with a 67 containing six birdies and two bogeys.
PGA TOUR Notes – Shubhankar Sharma
In his second round at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, Shubhankar Sharma hit 8 of 14 fairways and 9 of 18 greens in regulation, finishing at 5 over for the tournament. Sharma finished his day tied for 58th at 5 over;
On the 622-yard par-5 11th, Sharma got on the green in 4 and two-putt for bogey, bringing Sharma to 1 over for the round.
On the par-4 14th, Sharma’s 153 yard approach to 14 feet set himself up for the bogey on the hole. This moved Sharma to 2 over for the round.
After a drive to the left rough on the 575-yard par-5 15th, Sharma hit his third into the Right Front Green Side Bunker. He put his next shot to the green before getting on the green on his fourth shot and had a two-putt for a bogey. This moved Sharma to 3 over for the round.
On the 172-yard par-3 17th, Sharma his second shot was a drop, his third shot went 109 yards to the fringe, and his chip went 6 yards to the green where he 1 putted for double bogey. This moved him to 5 over for the round.
Sharma got a bogey on the 388-yard par-4 18th, getting on the green in 3 and two putting, moving Sharma to 6 over for the round.
After a 290 yard drive on the 316-yard par-4 first, Sharma chipped his second shot to 7 feet, which he rolled for one-putt birdie on the hole. This moved Sharma to 5 over for the round.
On the 445-yard par-4 fifth, Sharma had a bogey after hitting the green in 3 and two putting, moving Sharma to 6 over for the round.
The highlight of the day though was Tiger Woods.
Whatever it takes. ? pic.twitter.com/RhkA4yXZMz
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 23, 2019
Woods shot a 66, but the round will be remembered for a moment of magic that he constructed from the sand off the ninth fairway. With his view of the green completely blocked, Woods produced a slice for the ages, navigating around the trees and hopping right to settle about 11 feet from the pin.
“I just hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens. My speed has been pretty good with the putter. The greens were really tricky, and I had some really tough flights today, but I have just done a really good job with controlling my distance with my irons and giving myself a lot of looks at birdies,” said the leader Johnson.
“I just enjoy playing this kind of golf. It makes you focus. You’ve got to think and you’re doing a lot of calculations with the numbers and trying to figure out how far the ball is going to actually go. I like this golf course. It does set up well for me. It’s pretty narrow, but it’s treelined, so I do like that.”
Tommy Fleetwood arrived up the order on a brilliant 65, joining Sergio Garcia at seven under in T4. The Spaniard made 66. Cameron Smith (67) and Ian Poulter (68) are in T7 at six under.
You won't watch a better start to a round this season ?? pic.twitter.com/94XQpSdCK4
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 23, 2019
A four-putt double bogey at the first hole wasn’t how Kiradech Aphibarnrat may have planned to kick off his second round. But he did a great job wiping that off his bag, as he worked his way back to a hard-fought 69. Woods, Tyrrell Hatton, Charles Howell III and Richard Sterne are all placed in T8, six strokes off the lead.
The turnaround of the day came from Phil Mickelson. After an uncharacteristic 79 on Thursday, lefty made a 14-stroke swing the other way. He shot a blemish-free 65, the lowest score of the day with Fleetwood, to put that first round nightmare well behind him.
