Tag: Harold Varner III

BMW Championship: Who’s in, whose bubble burst in FedEx Cup Playoffs

The field of 124 at the Northern Trust has been cut to 70 for the BMW Championship.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Tony Finau wasn’t the only player who came through in the clutch on Monday at the Northern Trust.

In the tournament within the tournament, six players punched their ticket for this week’s BMW Championship, the second leg of the three event FedEx Cup Playoffs and kept their hopes alive to win the $15 million in bonus money awarded to the champion.

While Finau closed in 65 at Liberty National to win the title in a sudden-death playoff, Keith Mitchell birdied the final three holes to jump 38 places to No. 63 and bump Matthew Wolff to the wrong side of the cutline at No. 71.

“I was pretty down on myself in the middle of 15 fairway and to be standing here getting up and down on 15 for par and then birdieing the last three holes to play next week, it took a lot of, I guess just calming my nerves and trying to remember that this is it, I’ve got three holes left to keep playing or I’m going home,” said Mitchell who finished T-8. “I just decided to stick with it and really that putt on 18 just sealed the deal.”

Sweden’s Alex Noren charged with a closing 66 and despite a bogey at the last finished tied for fourth.

“I kind of knew I wasn’t going to win, but a good chance for a good finish, and that’s all I tried to do, moving up to next week,” Noren said.

NORTHERN TRUST: Winner’s bag | Leaderboard | Photos | Money

Tom Hoge closed in 69 and tied for fourth with Noren and Justin Thomas. He started the week at No. 108 and made up the most ground among those who advanced.

“I had no plans as far as what we were going to did after the round here, so you have to play well and make sure you’re moving on,” Hoge said.

Erik van Rooyen had a rollercoaster of a day. He started one stroke out of the lead and was in the trophy hunt until he hit two balls in the water at the par-3 11th and made quadruple bogey. In one disastrous hole, he tumbled 28 spots in the FedEx Cup standings and could ill afford anymore slip ups. But he bounced back with an eagle at the par-5 13th and finished seventh.

“I was fighting right the whole day, and then sniped one left on 11, in a place you can’t miss it. That’s disappointing,” he said. “I tried to paddle back after that and make some birdies, obviously knowing that I probably was out of it at that point for winning the tournament, but there’s points on the line to move up.”

Harry Higgs shot 3-under 68 to finish T-16 and secure at least another shot to make it to Atlanta and the Tour Championship.

“I’m no good with numbers, I don’t know how it works but I’m pretty sure if I win next week I will be into Atlanta which is obviously a goal,” he said. “I did figure when I made the turn at even, I kind of thought four birdies on the back nine would be in enough, three would have a very good chance. I guess fortunately made three to just scrape by and get in.”

Northern Trust
Harold Varner III at the 2021 Northern Trust at Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, N.ew Jersey. Photo by John Minchillo)/Associated Press

Harold Varner III has been in this position before and came through in 2019, but said it doesn’t make it any easier.

“The nerves are the same,” he said. “I wish they could go away because you’ve done it before but it just hasn’t happened yet. Today was a grind and just hung in there.”

Reigning PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson advanced on the number at 70th despite missing the cut on Friday. But Irishman Seamus Power wasn’t so lucky. He missed an 11-foot par putt at 18 that would’ve been the difference. The bogey left him in 72nd place. But Power, who was competing in Monday qualifiers with limited status before winning the Barbasol Championship last month, took it mostly in stride.

“For me there was nothing to lose and only to gain. I didn’t quite gain enough. Just didn’t have my best game and that’s what cost me,” he said. “Bogey at the last disappointing but in a few days I’ll be feeling better about it.”

Six players who entered the week on the right side of the cutline had their bubbles burst (see below) effectively when they missed the cut on Friday.

Now, the new target is to finish in the top 30 to advance to the Tour Championship. But first, the next stop is Baltimore and Caves Valley Golf Club. Asked how he would celebrate with the quick turnaround after a Monday finish, Mitchell said, “Driving to Baltimore in my BMW.”

Players moving into top 70

Player Finish at Northern Trust FedEx ranking last week Current FedEx ranking
Tom Hoge T-4 108 48
Alex Noren T-4 91 43
Erik van Rooyen 7 76 45
Keith Mitchell T-8 101 63
Harry Higgs T-16 80 69
Harold Varner III T-11 72 56

Players moving out of top 70

Player Finish at Northern Trust FedEx ranking last week Current FedEx ranking
Matthew Wolff MC 59 71
Matt Fitzpatrick MC 60 73
Tyrrell Hatton MC 63 74
Martin Laird MC 65 75
Troy Merritt MC 69 78
J.T. Poston MC 70 79

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Beyond the course: Harold Varner III talks life on the road and time with MJ

Golfweek spoke with star Harold Varner III about life on the Tour, the lessons he’s learned and even his time with Michael Jordan.

What’s it like being on the PGA Tour?

Golfweek and USA TODAY Sports spoke with star Harold Varner III about life on the Tour, the lessons he’s learned and even his time with Michael Jordan. Varner was promoting his relationship with Cutwater Spirits and its newest canned cocktail, Vodka Transfusion.

Varner, who was born in Akron, Ohio, but grew up in the Charlotte suburb of Gaston, N.C., keeps inching toward his first victory. He was T-2 at the RBC Heritage earlier this season and keeps improving his Strokes Gained: Putting.

Varner’s response on breaking through and getting his first victory — why not think big, like his buddy MJ would do?

“One win would be cool, but it would be cool to, like, win a major,” he said.

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How much money each golfer won at 2021 RBC Heritage

Stewart Cink polished off his eighth PGA Tour title at the RBC Heritage to win the event for the third time and take home a cool $1,278,000.

Stewart Cink opened with a pair of 63s to set the 36-hole scoring record and then held steady over the weekend to win for the eighth time on the PGA Tour, and second time this season, at the RBC Heritage.

It was his third win at Harbour Town Golf Links, the first two coming in 2000 and 2004.

Harold Varner III finished tied for second, the best finish of his PGA Tour career. Emiliano Grillo also tied for second.

Maverick McNealy (67), Matt Fitzpatrick (68) and Corey Conners (68) finished at 13 under. It was the fourth top 10 in the last six starts for Conners. Collin Morikawa struggled in the final group paired with Cink. After a first-hole birdie, Morikawa made three bogeys to fall back and shot 72 to finish in a tie for seventh with Chris Kirk (67) at 12 under.

RBC Heritage: Scores | Photos | Winner’s bag

Here’s a look at all the money won this week at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Position Player Score Earnings
1 Stewart Cink -19 $1,278,000
T2 Harold Varner III -15 $631,900
T2 Emiliano Grillo -15 $631,900
T4 Maverick McNealy -13 $298,792
T4 Corey Conners -13 $298,792
T4 Matt Fitzpatrick -13 $298,792
T7 Chris Kirk -12 $230,750
T7 Collin Morikawa -12 $230,750
T9 Cameron Smith -11 $186,375
T9 Shane Lowry -11 $186,375
T9 Russell Henley -11 $186,375
T9 Webb Simpson -11 $186,375
T13 Dustin Johnson -10 $130,995
T13 Denny McCarthy -10 $130,995
T13 Brian Harman -10 $130,995
T13 Daniel Berger -10 $130,995
T13 Sungae Im -10 $130,995
T18 Charles Howell III -9 $87,584
T18 Brian Stuard -9 $87,584
T18 Danny Willett -9 $87,584
T18 Abraham Ancer -9 $87,584
T18 Matt Kuchar -9 $87,584
T18 Charlie Hoffman -9 $87,584
T18 Matt Wallace -9 $87,584
T25 Wesley Bryan -8 $52,274
T25 Cameron Davis -8 $52,274
T25 Tom Hoge -8 $52,274
T25 Adam Schenk -8 $52,274
T25 Alexander Noren -8 $52,274
T25 Tom Lewis -8 $52,274
T25 Camilo Villegas -8 $52,274
T25 Billy Horschel -8 $52,274
T33 Doug Ghim -7 $37,867
T33 Michael Thompson -7 $37,867
T33 Matt Fitzpatrick -7 $37,867
T33 Matt Wallace -7 $37,867
T33 Ryan Palmer -7 $37,867
T33 Martin Laird -7 $37,867
T39 Tyrrell Hatton -6 $30,885
T39 Sam Burns -6 $30,885
T39 Brendon Todd -6 $30,885
T42 Branden Grace -5 $24,495
T42 Chase Seiffert -5 $24,495
T42 Scott Harrington -5 $24,495
T42 Brandt Snedeker -5 $24,495
T42 Michael Thompson -5 $24,495
T42 Will Zalatoris -5 $24,495
T48 Ian Poulter -4 $18,957
T48 Matthew NeSmith -4 $18,957
T48 Kevin Tway -4 $18,957
51 Rory Sabbatini -3 $17,821
T52 Brice Garnett -2 $17,005
T52 Robert Streb -2 $17,005
T52 Ryan Moore -2 $17,005
T52 Mackenzie Hughes -2 $17,005
T56 Kyoung-Hoon Lee  -1 $16,472
T56 Dylan Frittelli  -1 $16,472
58 Luke List E $16,259
T59 Harry Higgs +1 $15,975
T59 Sepp Straka +1 $15,975
T59 Robert MacIntyre +1 $15,975
62 Scott Piercy +2 $15,691
63 Lee Westwood +3 $15,549
64 Wyndham Clark +4 $15,407
65 Sung Kang +5 $15,265

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Harold Varner III on getting married in COVID times and why his ring didn’t fit

Newly married and ready to go, Harold Varner III talks about his wedding day and why not playing the last two weeks serves as motivation.

Harold Varner III had the last two weeks off from the PGA Tour because he didn’t qualify for either the limited field CJ Cup or Zozo Championship, and he was none too happy about it.

“Just seeing the best in the world play and not being in those fields, just extra motivation that I needed,” said Varner, who is scheduled to tee it up this week during the Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Club in Southampton, Bermuda.

The 30-year-old, who is still seeking his first PGA Tour victory, used his downtime to do some construction around the house and also get his wedding ring re-sized. Varner tied the knot with his girlfriend, Amanda, who he met at age 17, on September 26, despite the fact that COVID-19 threw a wrench into their best laid plans.

“The big is thing for me was to get married,” he said. “Obviously, I wanted a lot of people there to see it, but the biggest thing was getting married to my wife, that’s the most important thing. I think weddings are getting a little blown out of proportion. What are you really getting married for? Are you getting married to party? Like I can throw a big party, I’m good at that, I have no trouble with that.”

Varner was named Golfweek‘s “most fun” player on the PGA Tour in its “Fun Issue” this year, so we have no doubts the nuptials were a blast. Varner said he was fortunate that the laws were loosened in North Carolina to allow larger gatherings and he was able to have 150 people attend the couple’s big day.

“A lot of older people left after the ceremony. And the reception was a lot of fun because it became a big party, but a lot of close friends. We were super fortunate, but we were going to get married whether it was two of us or 300 of us,” Varner said.

BERMUDA: Tee times, TV info | Fantasy | Odds, best bets

Their first dance? Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” was their song of choice and according to Varner, it got pretty crazy on the dance floor from there.

“It was good,” he said. “I definitely lost all my clothes.”

As for his wedding ring, Varner is adjusting to having playing with something new on his left ring finger. He’s elected to leave it on in fear of losing it if he were to take off. Initially, getting it off was a bit of a problem as it happened to be a little too snug.

“You know the little ring thing you put keys on? I sent that to the [jeweler] for the measurement of my finger and it didn’t come out great,” he explained. “So, I went to sleep with my ring on and it cut the circulation off in my finger, so, that wasn’t a great idea. That’s been a little different.”

Not many better places for a honeymoon than Bermuda, but this is a work trip for Varner. He tees off No. 1 on Thursday at 11:15 a.m. ET.

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Harold Varner III isn’t just suited for TPC Summerlin, he’s suited for Las Vegas

HV# is Vegas in a nutshell: on top of the world one minute; wondering what’s gone wrong the next.

The last few months have been something of a thrill ride for Harold Varner III. The high moments have been among his highest on the PGA Tour. A top-20 finish in the first event back after the pandemic break. A share of the first-round lead and a T-7 finish at the Wyndham Invitational. A major milestone passed in topping $6 million in career earnings.

But the dips are still there, too. He failed to make either of the cuts in Columbus. He’s had more than his share of yips with the putter, finishing the recently completed 2019-20 season at 141st in Strokes Gained: Putting.

And although he keeps slowly climbing, he’s yet to crack into the Tour’s winner’s circle, and in fact, still doesn’t have a runner-up on his resume.

On top of the world one minute; wondering what’s gone wrong the next.

So … Vegas.

“I think Vegas fits my personality more than the golf course, but that’s nor here or there,” Varner joked after starting things off in style on Thursday with a 63, good enough to trail leader Bryson DeChambeau by a stroke at TPC Summerlin. “Yeah, I’ve played well here. I just would like to — like to just finish a tournament. It’s just good to get back in the swing of things. I love competition, so it was good to get back in it.

“I was a little nervous at the start, which is really weird, but it is what it is.”

SHRINERS: Tee times, TV | Odds | Fantasy

Varner, who was born in Akron, Ohio, but grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina, went all-in on the back nine, finishing with six birdies en route to a scintillating 31 after the turn at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He was by no means alone in posting a solid number — more than 20 players posted a round of 66 or lower — but Varner said he isn’t too concerned with how others are playing.

In fact, he said in terms of motivation, he doesn’t need to peek at the leaderboard.

“My foot is pretty far up my butt by the time I start, so we’re ready to go. What do I need to do? I play golf. If he plays good and I play good, I like my chances,” Varner said.

So will he be worried if he sees another group of low numbers as he tees off at 4:05 p.m. ET with Harris English and Henrik Norlander?

“If you tee off in the afternoon and you see that, you just know there is a lot of looks out there. So be patient and good things will happen. Not so much kick yourself in the rear end, but you got to make birdies,” Varner said.

“I don’t mind it. My rookie year I would overthink it for sure because you want to play well so bad. The best thing you can do when it’s this easy is just be patient. You never know when you’re going to rip five or six off.”

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Harold Varner III shoots sizzling 62 Thursday at Wyndham Championship

Harold Varner III, 29, shot a bogey-free 62 to rocket up the leaderboard in the opening-round as he seeks his first PGA Tour win.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – When Harold Varner III finished a pre-tournament press conference at the Wyndham Championship Wednesday, he told the videographer that he needed to play better so he stopped getting questions about his sparkling personality rather than his sparkling play.

Varner, 29, who is still seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, made sure on Thursday that the questions would focus on the latter, shooting a career-best 8-under 62 to grab the clubhouse lead at Sedgefield Country Club.

“The first time I came here I couldn’t crack an egg, but slowly but surely getting better,” Varner said.

Indeed, he is. Varner posted 73 in his first round here in 2016, his highest score at the Donald Ross layout, and missed the cut. He shot 63 in the first round in 2017, and finished T-10. Varner carded eight birdies this time, including four in a row beginning at the eighth hole, though he didn’t even realize it until being told by a member of the media.

“I forget a lot of stuff,” he said. “Yeah, I did. That’s pretty cool.”

Wyndham Championship: Leaderboard | Best photos

After overnight showers led to the first round being played under preferred lies, Varner took advantage of soft conditions and fired darts at the flags. The longest of his eight birdie putts came from 12 feet. His shortest? That was when Varner knocked a short iron from 143 yards to just more than a foot at No. 11. But the putt that meant the most to him was getting down in two from 65 feet to end his round, and “just not giving it away when you’ve worked that hard,” he said. Varner, who ranks No. 158 in Strokes Gained: Putting, ranked eighth in the 156-man field in the first round of the Wyndham Championship.

His stellar ball-striking can be attributed to the work he’s done with instructor Bradley Hughes, who helped resurrect Brendon Todd’s career. Varner initially did a phone lesson at Riveria Country Club on the Monday of the Genesis Invitational in February.

“I played unbelievable,” said Varner, who is a relatively short drive away from Hughes, who is based in Greenville, South Carolina. “I went one time and just started hitting it really well.”

Varner, who grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina, graduated from East Carolina University and makes his residence in Charlotte, would like nothing more than to make Greensboro the site of his maiden victory.

Varner opened with 63 in the first round of the Charles Schwab Championship in June and held the 36-hole lead, his first solo lead after any round on Tour. But he stumbled on the weekend and finished T-19.

“Colonial stung a little bit because I keep getting there about every month or so, but I just know that my time’s coming eventually,” he said.

Varner is one of the most likeable players and exudes a positive attitude. When asked if it is difficult to maintain his enthusiasm in his pursuit of victory, he said, “It’s not hard at all. Life’s really hard. What people are going through right now, yeah, this is easy. I don’t care if I don’t ever win. I want to win, but it is what it is.”

Among those players who believe Varner is on the verge of a breakthrough is five-time Tour winner Billy Horschel, who opened with 4-under 66 on Thursday.

“I’ve told him since Day One when he got out here on the PGA Tour he’s got a lot of talent, he could be a top-30 player in the world for a long time,” Horschel said. “I think it’s just a matter of time until he puts it all together.”

Varner, one of four Black players on the Tour, also made headlines for speaking out quite eloquently on racial unrest in the country after the death of George Floyd.

“It was important for me because I believe there’s a lot of good,” he said of his Instagram post. “It turned out great.”

But he’d much rather make headlines for his play, especially when it’s as sparkling as his personality.

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Bubba Watson, Harold Varner III win Rocket Mortgage Classic exhibition, raise nearly $1 million

Bubba Watson and Harold Varner III teamed up to beat Jason Day and Wesley Bryan, 3-up, in a nine-hole charity exhibition at Detroit Golf Club.

If you combine a good cause with good friends in good spirits playing some pretty good golf, you get exactly what you got Wednesday: A good time.

Almost too good a time.

Bubba Watson and Harold Varner III teamed up to beat Jason Day and Wesley Bryan, 3-up, in a nine-hole charity exhibition at Detroit Golf Club, which hosts the first round of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic on Thursday.

Watson helped organize the event, which raised nearly $1 million for the tournament’s initiative to help end the digital divide in Detroit and ensure every resident has access to the internet, technology and digital-literacy training.

Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert’s philanthropy in Detroit inspired Watson to put the match together.

“And then when the Tour, I took the idea to the Tour, they blessed me with the opportunity,” he said. “Obviously with the Rocket Mortgage team behind us, they let us do it and run wild with it. So it was a dream come true that they let me do it.”

With Tour commissioner Jay Monahan watching the group tee off on the 10th hole from a safe distance, the antics started right away when someone mentioned Watson would tee off first.

“I’m teeing off first!” Varner insisted like a jealous sibling, as he began to tee up his ball. “He always goes first.”

And go first he did again.

It was a casual match, with players walking and talking the whole time, much like a practice round. On the 12th green, Day stood near the hole when Watson missed a 20-footer for birdie. Watson shot him a glare and said, “You wished that out.”

Day took it a step further.

“I willed that out,” he said. “I didn’t wish that out.”

As they walked off the green, Varner had a question.

“Hey, Bubba,” he said. “How do you hit it so far when you’re so old?”

Varner is 29. Watson is 41.

“It’s God-given,” Watson said, before he blasted a towering fade over the trees on the 13th hole.

The teasing was incessant. When Varner dropped an iron on the 13th tee that knocked his ball off the tee, players yelled at him: “Penalty!”

The players walked the course. But Varner fell behind and hitched a ride in a cart to the 14th tee. As he approached, Day noticed Varner had suddenly put on a mask.

“Hey, man,” Day said. “Did you catch COVID on the way up?”

“No,” Varner said. “You can’t ride in a cart without a mask.”

On the 16th green, Watson got the revenge he was waiting for when he stood by the hole as Day missed a 20-foot putt.

“Hey,” Watson said to Day, “I wished it out.”

Varner clinched the match when he made a 30-foot Eagle putt from just off the 17th green. He and Watson celebrated with a socially distanced air fist bump.

“Oh, my God it feels good to be a champion again,” Watson crowed as he walked off the green.

After the match, Rocket Mortgage Classic tournament director Jason Langwell told the players how much money was raised and presented the winners with championship belts. Watson said he would kick in $25,000 and Varner thought about why he agreed to play in the match in the first place.

“I mean, the cool thing is, Bubba was riding in his car and he was like, ‘Would you play?’ ” Varner said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’ll play.’

“But as it got closer to things we were doing, I just thought it was really cool (that’s) what it’s about. I just couldn’t remember not having internet growing up. Like some kids had internet and then we got it like a year later, but like I couldn’t imagine being in high school and not having internet.”

Carlos Monarrez is a reporter for the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA Today Network. Contact him at cmonarrez@freepress.com and follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.

Charles Schwab Challenge: Final round tee times, TV info

The Charles Schwab Challenge heads into its final round at Colonial Country Club. Here are tee times and how you can watch.

The Charles Schwab Challenge heads into its final round at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, and the winner’s trophy and plaid jacket are anyone’s for the taking.

On Saturday, Xander Schauffele shot his second-straight 4-under 66 to take the 54-hole lead at 13 under. Coming off rounds of 65 and 66 respectively, Schuaffele birdied his final hole of the day to lead five other golfers by one shot.

Gary Woodland, Justin Thomas, Branden Grace, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth are all hot on Schauffele’s trail at 12 under in the first PGA Tour event in nearly three months. Spieth, who’s been in the midst of a dry spell before the Tour paused its season in March, shot a third-round 68 to sit T-2, following back-to-back rounds of 65.

The most notable third-round performance was by Patrick Reed who shot a bogey-free 7-under 66. Reed sits T-9 at 10 under with five other golfers including Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
Get ready for an action-packed Sunday full of live golf.

Leaderboard | Photo gallery | TV, streaming, radio info | Updates

Tee times

Tee time (ET) Players
8:45 a.m. Brian Stuard
8:50 a.m. Denny McCarthy, Zac Blair
9 a.m. Jhonattan Vegas, Scott Piercy
9:10 a.m. Adam Schenk, Doc Redman
9:20 a.m. Keith Mitchell, Joaquin Niemann
9:30 a.m. Richy Werenski, Bronson Burgoon
9:40 a.m. Matthew Wolff, Pat Perez
9:46 a.m. Pause to pay respects to the memory of George Floyd (8:46 a.m. local)
9:50 a.m. Jason Dufner, Matthew NeSmith
10 a.m. Zach Johnson, Talor Gooch
10:10 a.m. Andrew Landry, Byeong Hun An
10:20 a.m. Harry Higgs, Louis Oosthuizen
10:30 a.m. Scottie Scheffler, Billy Horschel
10:40 a.m. Chris Kirk, Lucas Glover
10:50 a.m. Patrick Rodgers, Viktor Hovland
11 a.m. Matt Jones, Tyler Duncan
11:10 a.m. Rory Sabbatini, Brooks Koepka
11:20 a.m. Bud Cauley, Matthew Fitzpatrick
11:30 a.m. Alex Noren, Keegan Bradley
11:40 a.m. Rafa Cabrera Bello, Brian Harman
11:50 a.m. Adam Hadwin, Kevin Kisner
12 p.m. Maverick McNealy, Tony Finau
12:10 p.m. Peter Uihlein, Joel Dahmen
12:20 p.m. Ian Poulter, Jim Furyk
12:30 p.m. Bubba Watson, Charles Howell III
12:40 p.m. Sungjae Im, Mark Hubbard
12:50 p.m. Cameron Champ, Jason Kokrak
1 p.m. J.T. Poston, Chesson Hadley
1:10 p.m. Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau
1:20 p.m. Corey Conners, Justin Rose
1:30 p.m. Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer
1:40 p.m. Daniel Berger, Harold Varner III
1:50 p.m. Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth
2 p.m. Justin Thomas, Branden Grace
2:10 p.m. Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland

TV, streaming information

Sunday, June 14

7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.: PGA Tour Live
1-3 p.m.: Live coverage, Golf Channel
Noon-6 p.m.: SiriusXM
3-6 p.m.: Live coverage, CBS
3-6 p.m.: Featured holes, ESPN+

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Bryson DeChambeau keeps battering Colonial en route to the top of the leaderboard

For the second consecutive day Bryson DeChambeau battered Colonial to stay in contention at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Bulked up Bash Brother Bryson DeChambeau battered vulnerable Colonial Country Club again in Friday’s second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tipping the scales at 240 these days – he’s added 40 pounds of muscle the past eight months and exchanged his medium golf shirts for ones that have a tag that says X-Large – DeChambeau turned Colonial into a pitch-and-putt with a second consecutive 5-under-par 65 to stand at 10 under through 36 holes.

On the eye-catching leaderboard, DeChambeau is one shot out of the lead set by Harold Varner III, who overcame a triple-bogey 7 on his first hole of the second round and added a 66 to his opening-round 63 to get to 11 under.

Past Colonial winner Jordan Spieth is with DeChambeau in second place. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy came home with a 63 and is two shots back with Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele. World No. 4 Justin Thomas is in a group at 8 under with major champions Gary Woodland and Justin Rose.

But it has been DeChambeau’s bulging muscles and massive drives that have opened the most eyes at spectator-less Colonial.

Photo gallery | By the rankings | Leaderboard | Updates

Try these tee shots on for size – he hit drives of 335, 320, 349, 340, 335, 330, 310, 365 and 340 yards in the second round. On five par-4 holes, he had 100 yards or less into the green for his second shot. On the par-5 first, his 365-yard drive left him with just 164 yards into the green.

“It was fun being able to bomb it out there and hit it in the fairway most of the time,” said DeChambeau, who has five PGA Tour titles. “I felt like I just picked away the golf course. It wasn’t anything crazy out there, but when I needed to make pars or make a crucial 10-footer, I did it when I needed to, and just kept the train rolling today.”

Despite becoming Charles Atlas, DeChambeau hasn’t lost his touch on and around the greens. But the work is nearly being blotted out by his massive frame. And to some, it’s a really massive frame.

When DeChambeau got to the 16th hole, a grandstand erected off the grounds was full of fans taking note of the large golfer in front of them.

“I thought it was amazing what they did, saying I was coming in at 300 or whatever pounds, that was funny,” DeChambeau said. “They were quite a bit off, but they said like something around 350 area, and they’re 100 pounds off. I’m only 235 to 240 right now. I think when I play these next three weeks, I’ll get down to 230, but my ultimate goal is to get as strong as I can, and I don’t know what that weight is. I’m just going to keep proportionally making everything stronger and applying some force and speed to the golf swing to see what it can handle.”

In doing so, he’s been forced to overhaul his clubs.

“I’ve had to change my lofts like crazy recently,” he said. “I’m down to 5½ degrees on the driver. I’m looking to go get a 3-wood that’s around 10 degrees. I’m producing so much spin I have to change the clubs itself.

“It’s crazy stuff that I would have never expected to happen, but I’ve had to make adjustments because loft is irrelevant, it’s really about your launch angle and spin right coming off of the ball, and the ball speed. Pretty much that’s all that matters.”

Well, that’s what happens when your chasing speed, strength and length. His ball speed hovers around 200 mph with driver in hand – an eye-popping number. But he knows the most important numbers this weekend will be the ones on his scorecard. He knows he has to keep producing speed, distance and red numbers.

“There’s a lot of great players up there,” he said. “Looking forward to an amazing challenge. I’ve always liked this golf course, but for some reason I haven’t played my best here. I’m looking to change that this week.”

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Harold Varner III takes solo lead into weekend at Charles Schwab Challenge

After Harold Varner’s 66 on Friday, the East Carolina grad made it clear: He’s here to win a golf tournament, first and foremost.

FORT WORTH, Texas — The question comes, invariably, somewhere in the middle of each media session with Harold Varner III. About racial inequality. About the statement he made on George Floyd, which was one of the first from anyone in the golf world. About the PGA Tour’s decision to keep the 8:46 a.m. tee time vacant.

He answers honestly and thoughtfully.

But when it came Friday, after Varner’s 66 pushed him into the second-round lead at the Charles Schwab Challenge, the East Carolina grad made it clear — he’s here to win a golf tournament, first and foremost.

Varner opened Friday’s play at Colonial Country Club with a triple-bogey on No. 10, a setback that could have been a dealbreaker, but he kept fighting back and all that stood between him and par for the day was a 10-footer on the par-3 16th hole.

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He was preparing to putt when the 8:46 a.m. break came.

“After making the triple I was just fighting for my life. I was just kind of — they told me not to putt, and I was like — I just wanted to make that putt just to get me back to even. I was really just focused on playing some good golf,” Varner said. “It’s pretty cool that the Tour is doing that, but when you’re out there, you’re just so in the moment. Well, I was anyway. I don’t know, man, I was just trying to make a birdie.”

And the birdies kept coming. In fact, Varner finished by rolling in birdie putts on five of his final six holes to jump atop the leaderboard. At 11-under, Varner has a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau. Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy are tied for third at 9-under heading into the weekend.

PGA: Charles Schwab Challenge
Harold Varner III stands on the bridge looking at his ball on the tenth hole during the second round of the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. Photo by Raymond Carlin III/USA TODAY Sports.

Varner has done it with his putter this week — he leads the event in strokes gained putting — and he believes an improved mindset has made a big difference at Colonial. His only other start here, back in 2017, saw him miss the cut, but he believes he’s a different player now.

“I’ve grown up a lot off the course, so it makes it easy to make good decisions that prepare you a little bit better for on-the-course stuff,” Varner said. “Yeah, I’m a lot better golfer. I think I’m just a little bit — I don’t really get rattled as much.”

Looking for his first win on Tour, Varner hopes he continues with the same spirit that put him in this position.

“Even after a triple, you just can’t live in the past,” Varner said.

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