TULSA, Oklahoma — How do you shoot a 63 in a major?
If you were Bubba Watson, you’d switch drivers and get lucky on the greens — at least that’s how the two-time Masters champion explained his record-setting second-round performance at the PGA Championship.
In 1982, Raymond Floyd shot a 7-under 63 in the first round of the PGA Championship at South Hills, and Tiger Woods tied the score in the second round in 2007. Both players went on to win.
For Watson, his 63 points were taken literally, at least by major standards. He has shot 70 or higher in 18 of his past 19 majors, with the lone exception of a 67 in the second round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.
Watson also has a poor record in the PGA Championship, where he lost to Germany’s Martin Kaymer in the 2010 playoffs as his leader.
In his other 14 PGA games, he has made the cut eight times and finished in the top 25 only twice.
“Out of nowhere, I don’t know why or how it worked, but I decided to replace the driver,” Watson said. “I’ve been using the same shaft since 2002. It’s about 90 grams, so I switched to a 60 gram shaft, and with age, the head speed — it doesn’t sound like a lot, but it A lot when it comes to the golf swing.”
The increased clubhead speed seems to make Watson more comfortable, and he hits the golf course with caution at times.
Watson will get nothing until he hits the par-5 13th The 43-year-old southpaw missed the fairway, his only turnover of the day.
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“I told my caddie I was going to hit the rough because I wanted to get it out of my mind,” Watson said. “I haven’t missed a fairway, and I don’t want to go to the 17th or 18th to have a chance to hit every fairway.”
Watson knew he couldn’t get to the green within two shots due to high winds, so missing the fairway wasn’t an inconvenience. He hit a 5-iron on the fairway, followed by a 60-degree wedge (curved to 63 degrees), one of his nine birdies of the round.
For the remaining eight birdies, Watson used wedges, mostly 63 degrees, seven times and one 9-iron.
While Watson believes in results over analysis, it’s hard for him to deny that in the second round he led the field in the Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, Tee To Green and Strokes Gained Total categories.
“These fairways are generous right now, so I feel like I
With enough control over the golf ball, I can hit
Spotting even in rough places,” Watson said. “I can play in rough around here. So yeah, obviously if I’m playing irons everywhere it’s going to be boring golf and then I’m not really going to this round. So being able to hit the driver gets me into the round and gives me my all out. “
Wind was a factor in the morning, but subsided by the afternoon, and by Watson’s sixth hole it was fine, giving him and many of his afternoon wave rivals a chance to lower.
Watson is four shots behind leader Will Zalatoris, but he still feels he has a lot to learn about Nanshan.
“I don’t think I learned how to attack the golf course,” Watson said. “If you really want to get through my round, I’m nervous every time I hit the ball. I’m nervous about every putt. I don’t have a clue.”
Watson went on to say that the greens are rougher and more hairy than they were on Thursday.
“My putter bounced my way and they went in today,” Watson said. “Hopefully tomorrow they bounce my way and then they get in. Basically, I mean, I don’t know how to attack the golf course. Today is a good day.”
More PGA Championship coverage from Early Reading
> Round 2 scores, update from Nanshan
> World No. 1 Scotty Scheffler unexpectedly misses chance
> Struggling to qualify for another major, Tiger Woods can smile
> What to watch on Rd 3
> Relaxed Justin Thomas appears on ESPN’s ‘MegaCast’ while leading PGA
> Zara Torres to lead in PGA draw
> Matt Fitzpatrick changes his Grand Slam title luck
> No-doubt Justin Thomas hits second 67 at PGA
> Round 2 PGA Notes: Aaron Wise Beaned, Stewart Cink Rising, Bunker Complaint
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