2022 Mexico Open Points: Jon Rahm passes by 5 points in Round 2 to retain a two-legged lead at Puerto Vallarta

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) – Jon Rahm faced the wind and handled it well Friday at the Mexican Open, making eight birdies en route to a 5-under 66, beating the No. world with a two- lead over Alex Smalley.

Rahm played all four of the 5 par 5, including the 18th hole at Vallarta Vidanta, with a light-to-near-green 4-iron, 6 feet high and a final putt.

He’s 12 years old under 130 going for the weekend.

Smalley is playing on the other side of the field, where he does most of his work. The highlight was flying out from 165 yards on the third par-4 eagle hole. He had the chance to hit the eagle on consecutive holes towards the end of his round, hit two 35-foot shots on par-5 Friday, and drive a 291- to 30-foot seventh hole for a two-shot birdie. put another ball.

He finished with 66 and will be in the final group with Rahm.

Rahm was two shots higher later in the opening round, in which the Spaniard never faced the wind until the last four holes. This feels even better.

“I feel like I could be a little more satisfied with the score today than I was yesterday,” Rahm said. “Yesterday I felt really in control and spoke relatively stress-free. Today was a bit more strenuous, but still a really good round of golf.”

Patrick Reed made two late birdies and was ready to end his round with a third in a row until he hit a pedestrian pitch from the green on par-5 at number 18. He had to. tackled for par and 66, leaving him in a large group of three shots behind.

Cameron Champ, who plays with Rahm and handles the wind with his penetrating ball, has 66 to score 9 under 133. Champ and Reed are joined by Trey Mullinax (69), Adam Long (66) and Andrew Novak (sixty seven) .

Rahm has a great shot from an empty area right next to the 14th penalty area, about 3 meters away. What really pleased him was his 6-iron at par-3 in ninth, on the water while trying to navigate strong winds.

“The 6-iron is perfect. And having 3 feet of birdie there, that’s a big bonus,” Rahm said. “I think my iron match today was really good. It was really under control and in such windy conditions I hit it really, very firmly. a good position.”

Smalley, a Duke graduate in rookie year on the PGA Tour, finished runner-up in the Dominican Republic a month ago. Both pitches feature the same grass on the pitch, and Smalley said he’s had plenty of experience playing in the last group at the weekend, starting with the belief he can compete on tour.

He’s also a quick study of the wind, making some par 4s harder to reach than some 600 yard par 5s.

Smalley hit a second with an iron at 608 yards at sixth. Two holes later, he had 3-wood for his second shot on the 515-yard eighth hole, barely reaching the front of the green. That results in a gorgeous lag of 65 feet for a par.

“That’s what happens when you have a level 25 gust,” Smalley said. “I was able to keep the ball in play and was able to get out of holes that I’ve played for so long, and I’m glad I finished them.”

Scott Brown, Jonathan Byrd and Davis Riley, who lost the playoffs at the Valspar Championship earlier this year, are in the group of eight under 134, four behind.

The cutoff was 2 under 140. Among those who made it into the weekend were the Ortiz brothers of Guadalajara – Alvaro shot 69 and was at 5 under 137, while PGA Tour winner Carlos had 69 and was at 3 – Poor 139. Abraham Ancer, one of 10 Mexican players on the pitch and ranked 20th in the world rankings, has 69 and has slashed the number.

Everyone’s mission is to chase Rahm, win the first of the year.

“I played really well,” he said. “I can’t really complain about whatever I’m doing right now, so hopefully I can keep that good ball and keep rolling the way I have.”

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