Every year, two-time major winner Zach Johnson looks forward to playing the Sony Open in Hawaii and strolling the Waialae Country Club grounds.
In 11 previous appearances dating back to 2004, Johnson has three top-10s, including a win in 2009, missing the cut only twice en route to earning $1.43 million on this stop on the PGA Tour.
On Thursday, he opened with a ho-hum 69 that left him 10 shots behind first-round leader Justin Thomas. Johnson closed that gap somewhat with a 9-under 61 that left him tied for third with Justin Rose and Hudson Swafford. Had he sunk his 35-foot eagle putt at the last, he would have become the first person on tour to shoot three 60s through the course of a career.
Still, 9 under is 9 under in one round.
“It was good,” Johnson said. “Kind of sluggish early and then you get one putt to drop and it just kind of cannonballed there. I had a lot of good looks, and I didn’t make everything, but I certainly hit some close and capitalized.”
Johnson made eagle from the sand trap at his ninth hole (No. 18).
“And that always helps the cause,” Johnson said. “As the day went on, I think it probably became more solid.”
So, what’s the difference between 69 on Thursday and 61 on Friday, other than eight shots?
“Combination of everything,” Johnson said. “I controlled my flight better and made some putts. A lot of everything.”
Sabbatini in the house — again
Rory Sabbatini played in the first Sony Open and he hasn’t seen a reason to stop.
“I’ve played every year since 1999,” Sabbatini said proudly after shooting a 1-under-par 69 Friday for a two-day total of 8-under 132. “That’s 19 in a row.”
Of the tournaments he has played, this is the only one he hasn’t missed.
“Even when I was injured I came and played,” he said.
He had to qualify for the 1999 appearance in his rookie year on the PGA Tour and has made a point of returning.
“I love the golf course here, the location, everything,” Sabbatini said. “It is one of the best if not the best course we play on. And it is always fun to get out of the holiday rut and come over here.”
The rewards haven’t been bad either — he’s earned $1.5 million at Waialae for his efforts.
Molder sticking around
After Thursday’s round, it looked like Bryce Molder’s return to Waialae would be brief.
Molder, who hadn’t made a Sony Open cut in three previous appearances, began Friday’s play buried in a tie for 134th in the 144-player field after a 2-over 72 in the first round that included a run of five consecutive bogeys.
When he signed his scorecard Friday morning, he’d rocketed into the top 10 with a bogey-free 9-under 61.
Molder played the front nine at 30 and strung together three birdies from Nos. 12 to 14 to get to 8 under through 14 holes. He parred the next three holes and birdied 18 to move to 7 under for the tournament and went into the clubhouse tied for ninth.
Although 59 came into view after No. 14, “I wasn’t even guaranteed of making the cut,” said Molder, who last played Sony in 2010. “But you know, if I had made one more birdie, I probably would have thought a little bit more about it.”
Seniors playing through
Fred Funk and Vijay Singh may be a little long in the tooth, but these two seniors can still muster a PGA Tour moment. Both will play at next week’s Champions Tour opener in the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, but not before playing 36 more holes here after surviving the cut.
The 60-year-old Funk fired a 4-under 66 to land on the cutline of 3-under 137 and is tied for 68th entering today’s third round. Singh opened with a 65 on Thursday and followed it up with a 70 for a 36-hole total of 5-under 135. He is tied for 48th.
David Toms was not as fortunate. Making his senior circuit debut next week on the Big Island, Toms, who won here in 2006, shot consecutive 70s to miss the cut by three shots.
