Adrien Saddier continues to gain experience on the PGA Tour, qualifying for the weekend at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona. Meanwhile, compatriot Matthieu Pavon was eliminated from the tournament, while Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune currently leads.
Saddier, after missing the cut at the Sony Open and Farmers Insurance Open and finishing 70th at the American Express, secured his place in the weekend rounds with scores of 68 and 71. The Frenchman navigated the challenging Stadium Course, famed for its boisterous 16th hole, with a solid performance.
His second-round card of 71 followed a strong opening 68, bringing his total to -3. Despite a double bogey on the 2nd hole, Saddier rebounded with birdies on the 5th, 13th, and 17th. Notably, his drive on the 17th, a par-4, travelled over 300 meters and landed within 6 meters of the hole.
Pavon Struggles with Double Bogeys
Matthieu Pavon experienced a more difficult day, particularly on the treacherous 17th hole. Starting at -3, he conceded a double bogey after driving into the water and requiring three putts. He then followed this with another double bogey on the 18th, after a drive off course and a missed approach. With a total of +3 (73-72), Pavon missed his first cut of the season on the PGA Tour.
Golf is hard … even for the No. 1 player in the world.
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Hisatsune and Matsuyama Lead
The tournament lead is currently held by two Japanese players. Ryo Hisatsune, 23, carded a second-round 63 (-8) to reach -12 overall. His compatriot, Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters Tournament winner, is one stroke behind at -11, following rounds of 68 and 64. Both players completed the final six holes at -6.
Behind the leading pair, several PGA Tour winners are within striking distance, including Americans Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala, and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, all at -7. World number one Scottie Scheffler is currently in 28th place at -4. After a challenging first round of 73, Scheffler responded strongly on with a bogey-free 65 (-6).
Scheffler’s improved performance came after working on his grip, and he extended his cuts streak to 66, the longest active run on the PGA Tour. He finished with a 3-foot birdie on the 18th hole.
Scheffler acknowledged the possibility of overcoming the seven-shot deficit, recalling his 2022 Phoenix Open victory where he made up nine shots for his first PGA Tour win. He stated he felt “more in control of my game” after Friday’s round.
Two-time WM Phoenix Open champion Brooks Koepka, in his second tournament since being reinstated by the PGA Tour, missed the cut, finishing at +2 after rounds of 75 and 69.
The competition at TPC Scottsdale continues to be fierce, with the Japanese duo setting the pace and Scheffler demonstrating his resilience. The weekend rounds promise a compelling battle for the title.
