Rickie Fowler brings style and substance to Phoenix Open

Rickie Fowler reacts after a bunker shot on the 16th hole during the first round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Scottsdale, Ariz. He still knows how to have a good time. “I’ve got three handsome sponsors that love it here”.

“I have played well because we all made the tournament bomb and gouge”, Watson said Friday after his second 2-under 69. He made a 35-footer on the 12th, two-putted for birdie on the 13th and made a 28-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th after hitting a 258-yard shot over the water.

But when he was asked why he liked the course so much, Watson replied that, in fact, he didn’t, launching into a diatribe about recent changes made to the course by architect Tom Weiskopf, a former Open champion.

“It’s good for golf, good for the game, good for the fans that come out here”, Hahn said.

“I only live about 10 minutes away from here and I’m looking forward to a good weekend”.

‘I didn’t see any reason to change it, ‘ Watson said. Molder was unable to complete his round as bad light brought an end to play with him having completed 16 holes.

On Friday, Watson reiterated his dislike for the course – despite back-to-back second-places finishes here the last two years and a solid showing again this week.

Back-to-back bogeys followed for the 28-year-old, but he composed himself with a further birdie, as he finished Thursday’s play in a tie for the lead alongside in-form Rickie Fowler and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

Ko three-putted from 15 feet for a bogey to finish the rain-delayed second round in the morning.

Fowler, who won two PGA Tour titles and one European Tour title in 2015, scored two birdies on the front nine and had an inconsistent spell from the midway point.

A run of four birdies in a five-hole stretch along the back nine helped Lee get to nine under alongside overnight joint-leader Fowler, who is chasing a second win of the year after last month’s victory in Abu Dhabi.

Fowler carded a 68 to advance to nine under, striking four birdies and a solitary bogey.