American Express 2023 standings, scores: Jon Rahm, Tom Kim try to chase PGA Tour rookies after Round 2
What a difference in a week for the first round leader on the PGA Tour. Avoiding the same fate as Jordan Spieth at the Sony Open, Davis Thompson instead continued to move forward at American Express 2023. Claiming a solo lead by 10 under 62 on Thursday, the PGA rookie Tour again won it on Friday at the Nicklaus Tournament Course. Slightly stumbling out of the gate to start his round, Thompson rode a flock of eagles to eventually sign 8 under 64.
Winning a 36-hole PGA Tour record with five eagles, Thompson is in the under-18 spot but not without a host of heavyweights right behind him. Jon Rahm, the 2023 Champions League winner and arguably the hottest player in the world, will enter the weekend as Thompson’s closest chaser at 16th under 16 after innings 8 under 64 fighting.
Winner of this tournament in 2018, Rahm has positioned himself well to win his second PGA Tour event of the year and claim his fourth worldwide win in his last six outings. . On the same rotation as the leader, Rahm, along with other contenders Tom Kim, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, will play Stadium at PGA West on Saturday.
Leadership
1. Davis Thompson (-18)
Despite being in the middle of rookie season, Thompson has been around for a while, making his first appearance on the radar at the 2020 US Open. Now a Korn Ferry Tour winner and tournament commander, Thompson’s record-setting eagle will be difficult to maintain and could allow the rest of the court to pick up some points over the next 36 holes. For some context, Honda Classic 2022 winner and Tour Championship participant Sepp Straka scored three eagles in his entire 2021-22 season.
“Having watched this tournament for a few years now, I’ve always found the win rate to be too low. So you really don’t have a choice, you just keep hitting the greens and show yourself and try to make it happen. shots,” Thompson said. “I was just lucky enough to hit a lot of shots in the first two days. But, yes, it’s easy to stall, but at the same time, if you just focus on the present and focus on one shot. “
other candidates
2. Jon Rahm (-16)
T3. Jason Day, Tom Kim, JT Poston, Sungjae Im, Tyler Duncan (-13)
8. Patton Kizzire (-12)
T9. Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose, Scott Piercy, Taylor Montgomery (-11)
Rahm said at the League of Champions that he believes he is the best player in the world and it’s hard to argue with that after just six rounds as of 2023. No ShotLink data for two days his first, do not know how well he rolled the stone. Still, it’s probably safe to assume it’s the same as his five months ago. Since the BMW Championship, Rahm has averaged almost 1.5 strokes per round, helping him to three wins worldwide. With a low score in prediction, a tempered pitcher could push him down to fourth place since October.
“At this point where we’re on the PGA Tour, with a lot of good players going on, you need to show up at the weekend and give it your all,” Rahm said. “If there’s anything to prove it, it’s the fact that two weeks ago I shot under 16 at the weekend and ended up winning the tournament. So you have to keep your foot on the gas. and keep making birdies.”
Veterans Resurrection
Rahm isn’t the only former world No. 1 to take the first page of the rankings; a pair of veterans of the day Jason and Justin Rose got into the mix. Day enters 2023 after a strong swing season, including a T8 finish in the Las Vegas desert, and he’s adamant that some of the best — and healthy — golf — his is still in front.
“I mean, I mean my body — well, I was still in pain all those years, I just sacrificed myself to get to #1,” Day said. “I feel like – I hope that I’m doing the right things to not only get back there but get back there healthy and I hope to be able to stay there longer than I did.”
Rose is in a similar situation after winning a top 10 result at the Houston Open and is in need of a successful year if he is to join the European Ryder Cup Team next September. Now at 42, this could very well be his last chance to play for a spot, something the former US Open champion never had.
Two-hole roller coaster for SH Kim
SH Kim, meet Pete Dye. The rookie of the PGA Tour has enjoyed the great work of Mr. Dye in his second round at the Stadium. On his third par-5 16, Kim’s approach deviated from the flagpole only to find a bunker in the grass, 19 feet from the putt.
Ultimately leading to a three bogey, Kim went to Island Green in 17th place with no luck on his side. This quickly changed as his tee shot bounced off the contours of the rocks by the shore and on the grass. In just a few minutes, Kim experienced both the good and the bad of Dye’s creativity.
2023 American Express updated odds and picks
- Jon Rahm: 23/20
- Davis Thompson: 4-1
- Sungjae Im: 11-1
- Tom Kim: 12-1
- Jason’s Day: January 18
- Scottie Scheffler: 18-1
- JT Poston: 22-1
- Xander Schauffele: 35-1
For a moment, let’s assume that the lead goes to Rahm in the under-16 category because Thompson is unproven in this arena. If true, Day was an interesting pick at the age of 13 when he arrived at the Nicklaus Course — the easiest of the three courses in the first two days — after passing an eye test with excellent results in Friday.
If it weren’t for a spin on the first round when he blocked a tee shot out of bounds, Day would have been right there with Rahm. In the second round, the Australian led the people on the Stadium in terms of approach from tee to green and club win while placing seventh in club placing.
