NASSAU, Bahamas – Tiger Woods wasn’t the only player to surge up the standings Friday at the Hero World Challenge.
Defending champ Bubba Watson followed suit, chasing an opening 72 with a 9-under 63 that served as the best round of the tournament and gave him a shot at successfully defending his title.
Watson shot 25 under at Albany Golf Club last year, and he again displayed an affinity for the layout, playing his first six holes 6 under en route to an outward 29.
Hero World Challenge: Articles, photos and videos
“I really wanted a 28,” Watson said. “I had a chance to make three eagles on the last hole, No. 9 there. So I lipped out, I knew I had missed it a little low. So that would have been cool, a 28. It’s no 58, but it would have been a 28, at least.”
Just as J.B. Holmes did in the opening round, Watson did most of his damage on Albany’s five par 5s, playing the holes in 6 under, with matching eagles on Nos. 3 and 6. Watson now sits alone in fifth place, three shots behind co-leaders Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama heading into the weekend.
“You saw that a few under, shoot a round in the 60s, you can move up,” he said. “I had to come out and try to shoot something in the 60s, and when you get lucky, chip in for eagle, hit one out of the rocks … that’s when you know you can shoot a decent round, or a lot lower round.”