Doug Ghim was the best example of that at the John Deere Classic. For the second day in a row, he holed out from the fairway for eagle. His impressive performance secured him a 3-under par 68, placing him one shot ahead of the competition as he heads into the weekend. This lead represents Ghim’s first 36-hole lead on the PGA Tour in six years. Beyond that, it’s a huge victory and capstone achievement in his career.
During round one, Ghim accomplished a very rare and impressive eagle on the short par-4 sixth hole. His journey was not without challenges. He started by building a two-shot advantage. Then, in short order, challenges quickly pushed him into the woods and down a cart path. Ghim’s home run through the green had plenty of mustard on it. It looked like he would be foiled again when after chipping to 18 feet, he missed the putt for his second bogey of the round.
As the day went on, Max Homa lurked on Ghim’s back nine, eventually catching him and tying him late in the afternoon. Homa, who remains a formidable competitor, expressed his approach towards the competition, stating, “I don’t think really much changes. I mean, just play the golf course.”
Davis Thompson made headlines by becoming the first player to reach 11-under 131, placing him among five players within one shot of Ghim going into the weekend. Thompson is looking to become the first back-to-back victor in the John Deere Classic’s history. This specific distinction was last accomplished by Steve Stricker, who won from 2009 to 2011.
With a career full of memories packed in now, Ghim realized how special his success had been lately. “I guess holing out two days in a row is always nice,” he said. He added, “It’s been a couple of years since I holed out from the fairway. To get two back-to-back days is great.”
The tournament operators tweeted a plan to move up tee times considerably on Saturday, given an expected heavy rain forecast. Rikuya Hoshino and Jesper Svensson matched closing birdies to crush their chances. Their absolutely stellar play raised the cut line to 5 under.
Now, as Ghim heads into the weekend, the challenge is all about keeping that edge. He’s resolute about holding his own against the trials of a serious, highly competitive field. Current champions Homa and Thompson are breathing down each other’s necks. Fans should expect a thrilling finish to the John Deere Classic as these elite competitors vie for the victory!
Leave a Reply