Valero Texas Open 2018 Round 2

Valero Texas Open 2018 Round 2

"You've got to persevere," was Zach Johnson's comment at the end of the second round of the Valero Texas Open where he shares the lead with Ryan Moore.  

Johnson won this event, though on a different course, in 2008 and again in 2009. Only three other players in the tournament's 96 year history have successfully defended their title, those three being Bill Mehlhorn 1928-29, Arnold Palmer 1960-62 and Justin Leonard 2000-01. Johnson has also won the Masters in 2007 and the Open Championship in 2015.

In 2018 however, it took time during the first round before he felt that he was making any significant traction in the game.

"I felt like I was hitting some solid shots and wasn't getting rewarded, and you've just got to stay in it. You've got to persevere, grind it out, fight for pars. You just never know."

So he persevered and on the 13th hole an eight foot par putt meant he could stay on 2-under. A long drive followed, a hybrid to 12 feet and an eagle. He continued to power through on Friday with six birdies and an eagle and his 7-under 65 has brought him his share of the lead at the halfway point of the tournament.

Moore, for his part, has gone through two rounds without a bogey and his two 14-foot-plus birdie putts on the 6th and 17th helped cement his half-time leaderboard spot, sharing the 135 top total.

Just behind them are Andrew Landry and Grayson Murray on 136 then Ben Crane, Martin Laird and David Hearn on 138.

Sergio Garcia however did not fare so well. Garcia was a consultant for the design of the Oaks course in 2010 and this was his first time back at the Texas Open since then.

Here is how USA Today describes what happened:

'Garcia’s frustration boiled over on the tee box at the par-4 fifth, after he hit his drive well left of the fairway and into a native area. Sergio responded by flinging his driver into some bushes, then wandered in and retrieved the club. [Video below]

'To make matters worse, Garcia hit an awful second shot that flew over the green and left him further away from the hole than he started. His shot-map is a nightmare.'

Garcia's even-par 72 following a 74 left him with 2-over for the tournament and he missed the cut.


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