Hahn in front at Phoenix Open

Japan’s Matsuyama, who also teed off on 10, had five birdies in his first nine holes, including three in a row from the 15th through the 17th.

Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama held the joint lead overnight, with Hahn two strokes behind, but the American hit back on TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course. “I just became a little bit tense there and that’s something that I need to work on”.

“I have a chance to go out tomorrow and put together a good round and put myself in a good position for Sunday”. “It’s good for golf, good for the game, good for the fans that come out here”.

“It’s an exact turnaround from a couple weeks ago where I was dreading to get on the greens”, Els told reporters. On his final nine, he hit a wedge to 3 feet to set up a birdie on the par-4 second, chipped to 3 feet for another birdie on the par-5 third, and took the outright lead with a 10-footer on the par-4 sixth.

Lowry birdied seven of his first 13 holes, then bogeyed the next two.

Anirban Lahiri of India was second with a 5-under 66.

Boos are normally reserved for players who miss the green on the short par-3 hole.

“I don’t like it”, Watson said Wednesday. Lowry said he plays well on firm greens, which was the case Friday.

That continued this week at the Waste Management Open, where the two-time Masters champ whined about the course in the days leading up to the event. Toward the end of previous year is some of the best I have ever been swinging.

Bubba Watson shot his second straight 69. “Yeah, I hit it really good”. “I was pretty pleased to see all my balls finish in the fairway”, Ko said.

“Sometimes you get the right bounces, and around here, I’ve played well”, he said.

Ernie Els matched McIlroy’s 68.

The 18-year-old New Zealander was able to almost complete her round on Thursday and was at four-under after 17 holes when play was halted due to thunderstorms in the region around the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club course in Ocala, Florida.