QBE Shootout – Page 7 – Syndication Server

Meet the 2020 QBE Shootout teams

The QBE Shootout will feature 12 two-man teams competing in a different format each day: scramble, modified alternate shot and four-ball.

Last week’s Mayakoba Golf Classic marked the final full-field PGA Tour event of 2020, but now it’s time to have a little fun. This week’s QBE Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida, will feature 12 two-man teams competing over three days with a different format each day: scramble, modified alternate shot and four-ball.

Among the 12 teams are 16 golfers ranked in the top 50 in the world. As a group, they own dozens of worldwide titles and three majors – though the majors belong to Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen, who are competing on the same team.

QBE Shootout: First-round pairings, tee times, TV

Take a look at the teams and how their resumes stack up:

Rory Sabbatini — Kevin Tway

(Combined seven PGA Tour wins and 2019 QBE Shootout)

Sabbatini will be playing in his 11th Shootout and Tway in his second. In addition to his win, Sabbatini finished runner-up in both 2011 and 2012 with two different partners. They will attempt to become the first team since 2004 to successfully defend its QBE Shootout title.

Louis Oosthuizen — Bubba Watson

(26 worldwide wins including three major championships)

The South African will be playing in his first Shootout, while Watson will be making his sixth appearance. Watson defeated Oosthuizen in a playoff to win the first of his two Masters in 2012.

The only time these two faced each other in a Presidents Cup was 2015 when Oosthuizen and Branden Grace defeated Watson and J.B. Holmes in four-ball.

Harris English — Matt Kuchar

(11 PGA Tour wins and two QBE Shootout wins as a team)

Playing together for the first time since 2017, Kuchar and English will partner for the sixth time. One of the most successful pairings in Shootout history, this team has won twice (2013, 2016) and also has two runner-up finishes (2014, 2015). The duo holds the Tournament record for largest margin of victory, which was seven strokes when they won in 2013.

Daniel Berger — Steve Stricker

(15 PGA Tour wins and two QBE Shootout wins)

Paired together for the first time. Stricker won the 2011 Shootout with Jerry Kelly and the 2017 title with Sean O’Hair. Stricker, the current U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, snapped a streak of 11 consecutive appearances from 2008 through 2018 last year when he served as assistant captain of the U.S. Presidents Cup team. Berger is making his fourth start and first since 2017 when he and Gary Woodland finished tied for fourth.

Sebastian Munoz — Joaquin Niemann

(Both secured first PGA Tour title in 2019)

This pairing marks the first Latin American team in Shootout history; Muñoz representing Colombia and Niemann representing Chile. One of the young gun teams this year, both are in their 20s. The last time a rookie team won the Shootout was Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele in 2011.

Abraham Ancer — Matthew Wolff

(Two worldwide wins)

Ancer, age 27 and Wolff, 21, is the youngest team in the Shootout and they also boast the highest combined world ranking in the field (Wolff, 14th; Ancer, 23rd). This will be Ancer’s first appearance while Wolff returns after finishing sixth last year with Viktor Hovland. Ancer was the first Mexican player to crack the top 50 in the world in 2019 and the first Mexican player to participate in the Presidents Cup.

Billy Horschel — Brendon Todd

(Eight PGA Tour wins)

This team tied for third last year. Horschel will be making his eighth consecutive start and Todd his second. Both players qualified for the Tour Championship in September. During the 2019-2020 season, they combined for 10 top-10 finishes.

Ryan Palmer — Harold Varner III

(Five worldwide wins)

Playing together for the second straight year, having tied for third last year. Both are making their third start in the QBE Shootout. Palmer has skyrocketed up the World Golf Rankings in 2020 from No. 91 to start the year to currently No. 30.

Marc Leishman — Cameron Smith

(16 worldwide wins)

This Australian duo is another rookie team in the Shootout. It is also the first all-Australian team since 2005 when Steve Elkington and Greg Norman played together. Ten years separate these two with Leishman, 37 and Smith, 27. Smith tied for second in the Masters last month.

Cameron Champ — Tony Finau

(Three PGA Tour wins)

Regarded as two of the longest hitters on Tour, Champ and Finau are back at the QBE Shootout after missing the 2019 event, and will be paired together for the first time. Both finished in the top 10 at the PGA Championship and by season’s end were qualified for the Tour Championship.

Lanto Griffin — Mackenzie Hughes

(Two PGA Tour wins)

Another rookie team to the Shootout. Hughes was the first rookie in 20 years to win wire-to-wire when he won the 2016 RSM Classic, in only his fifth PGA Tour start. Griffin earned his first Tour victory at the 2019 Houston Open in his 33rd start.

Kevin Na — Sean O’Hair

(Eight PGA Tour wins and two QBE Shootout wins)

O’Hair, a two-time champion, returns for his 10th consecutive appearance. O’Hair has won at Tiburón with two different partners so it could be a good sign for Na, who is making his second appearance. Na tied for third in 2018 with Bryson

Greg Norman announces pairings for QBE Shootout

Tournament founder Greg Norman announced the 12 pairings for next month’s QBE Shootout. They include one notable returning team.

Tournament founder and host Greg Norman announced the 12 pairings for next month’s QBE Shootout on Thursday. They include one notable returning team, and exclude a runner-up in Sunday’s Masters.

Sungjae Im, who tied for second on Sunday, has withdrawn from the PGA Tour event, which is scheduled for Dec. 9-13 at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Kevin Na, who also is in the top 50 in the world, replaced Im.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the collection of players heading to Tiburón Golf Club this year,” Norman said in a release. “We have one of the strongest fields in the event’s history and that has led to 12 incredible pairings.

“The competition will be fierce this year, so I’m looking forward to an exciting three days of golf for our global television audience to enjoy.”

The Shootout, which will not have spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic, will have 16 of the top 50 players in the world, led by No. 13 Daniel Berger, No. 14 and U.S. Open runner-up Matthew Wolff, No. 19 Tony Finau, and No. 20 Louis Oosthuizen, a first-time participant.

Matthew Wolff Masters round 2 — Matthew Wolff, pictured here in the second round of the 2020 Masters, will compete at this year’s QBE Shootout. *Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports*

With many first-time players, the pairings have a much different makeup.

But a noticeable one doesn’t.

Harris English and Matt Kuchar won in 2013 and 2016, and finished second in 2014 and 2015, will be reunited. Kuchar didn’t play each of the last two years, but will be making his 10th appearance in the Shootout.

Defending champions Kevin Tway and Rory Sabbatini, and Ryan Palmer and Harold Varner III, and Billy Horschel and Brendon Todd, who both tied for third last year, are returning pairings, but the other eight teams have not been matched together before.

Berger will be playing for the fourth time with his fourth different partner: none other than 2021 U.S. Ryder Cup captain and part-time Naples resident Steve Stricker, who has won the Shootout with Sean O’Hair (2017) and Jerry Kelly (2009).

The 21-year-old Wolff, who was paired with Viktor Hovland last year, is with another youngster (although not quite as young): 27-year-old Abraham Ancer. They have the highest combined world ranking of any team in the field.

Norman’s native Australia is represented with one team — Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith. The latter tied with Im as runner-up to Dustin Johnson in the Masters.

After being paired with LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson the past two years, Finau will be playing with long-hitting Cameron Champ, who played with Kevin Kisner last year.

Na tied for third in the 2018 Shootout with Bryson DeChambeau, and will play with O’Hair, who has won with Stricker and with Kenny Perry (2012).

Oosthuizen will play with multiple Masters champion Bubba Watson. Shootout rookies Lanto Griffin and Mackenzie Hughes are paired together, as are Sebastian Munoz (Colombia) and Joaquin Niemann (Chile), who are the first Latin American team in Shootout history.

Seven QBE Shootout participants finished inside the top 25 at last week’s Masters, including Smith, who set a Masters record by becoming the first player to shoot all four rounds in the 60s.

The 32nd Shootout features a $3.6 million purse. This is the 20th edition of the event to be played at Tiburón.

Golf Channel will broadcast Friday’s first round competition and the final two rounds will be featured live on both Golf Channel and NBC.

The QBE Shootout will once again have a scramble format during the first round, a modified alternate shot format on Saturday and a final round better ball on Sunday.

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer will continue to be the tournament’s primary charitable beneficiary. Since 1989, the Shootout has raised more than $14 million for charitable causes.

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No fans for QBE Shootout, CME Group Tour Championship due to COVID-19

The events will be played without fans in attendance due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The PGA Tour’s QBE Shootout and LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship will both be played at Tiburón Golf Club from Dec. 9-20.

And they will be played without fans due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Tournament management Wasserman announced the decision Friday.

“Due to COVID-19, this year’s QBE Shootout and CME Group Tour Championship will be played without spectators in attendance,” said Rob Hartman, Vice President, Golf & Events & Tournament Director, of the QBE Shootout, in a statement. “This was not an easy decision for either event, but the health and safety of the Naples community, PGA Tour and LPGA players, caddies, sponsors, fans, and volunteers is our No. 1 priority.”

Professional golf events played since tours restarted during the summer have not had fans in attendance, with a few exceptions.

The Shootout, which features 12 two-person teams playing three different formats, will be Dec. 9-13, with tournament rounds Dec. 11-13. Rory Sabbatini and Kevin Tway are the defending champions. Friday’s first round will be entirely on the Golf Channel, with Saturday’s and Sunday’s rounds split between Golf Channel and NBC.

The Shootout’s Live Fest, the concert that featured Darius Rucker and Lady A in its first year in 2019, was canceled during the summer. It had been scheduled for Dec. 12.

Sei Young Kim, who just won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, is the defending champion for the CME Group Tour Championship, which is Dec. 17-20. The first three rounds will be entirely on the Golf Channel, with the final round on NBC.

Thursday, Tiburón also was announced as the host course for the PGA Tour Champions’ Chubb Classic, which is Feb. 8-14. That tournament will be played on the club’s Black Course. The other two professional events are on the Gold Course. Both were designed by Greg Norman, the founder and host of the QBE Shootout.

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Charley Hoffman, Chez Reavie join hole-in-one club for 2019-20 season

Charley Hoffman and Chez Reavie both made an ace this weekend at the QBE Shootout.

NAPLES, Fla. — Most of the golf world’s attention was trained on Royal Melbourne for the Presidents Cup over the weekend.

And with good reason.

But golf junkies probably spent the earlier parts of their weekend days watching the QBE Shootout in Florida.

If you were among those who tuned in, you saw some pretty great shot-making, including a pair of aces.

The first one came in Friday’s first round off the club of Charley Hoffman.

On the par-3 12th hole, which was measuring 207 yards, Hoffman got a hole in one to help him and teammate Kevin Kisner get to 9-under for the day.

Then, during Sunday’s final round of the 54-hole event, Chez Reavie joined the fun with a hole-in-one, a 9-iron on the 175-yard eighth hole.

One hop and in!

Chez Reavie bounces home an ace @QBEShootout. It's his 6th ace on TOUR and 22nd (!) of his life. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NAIAo8ZHyn

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2019

Reavie’s reaction seemed a bit subdued, maybe because it was his sixth ace on the PGA Tour and (yawn) 22nd overall.

“It was a solid shot from the outset, going straight at the flag,” said Reavie, who took the ball out of the hole, then gave it to a youngster alongside the gallery ropes.

Reavie and teammate Kevin Chappell finished 10th out of 12 teams. Hoffman and Kisner finished T-8.

Greg Hardwig of Naples Daily News contributed to this article.

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How much each team earned at the 2019 QBE Shootout

Check out how much each team earned at the 2019 QBE Shootout.

Kevin Tway and a red-hot Rory Sabbatini all but ran away in the better-ball format of the 2019 QBE Shootout at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort on Sunday in Naples, Florida.

The pair shot a 12-under 60 to win by two strokes over Jason Kokrak and J.T. Poston at 31-under 185. Tway and Sabbatini made eagle on No. 14 to take the lead for good, adding clutch birdies on holes Nos. 15, 17 and 18 to close out the tournament.

Check out the total payouts below for all 12 teams at the $3.5 million 2019 QBE Shootout.

QBE Shootout prize money

Position	Player	To par	Earnings
1	Tway/Sabbatini	-31	$870,000
2	Poston/Kokrak	-29	$545,000
T-3	Varner III/Palmer	-28	$295,500
T-3	Todd/Horschel	-28	$295,500
5	Poulter/McDowell	-27	$229,000
T-6	Wolff/Hovland	-26	$195,000
T-6	Putnam/Conners	-26	$195,000
T-8	Kisner/Hoffman	-24	$182,500
T-8	Watson/Howell III	-24	$182,500
10	Reavie/Chappell	-21	$175,000
11	Kizzire/Harman	-20	$170,000
12	Thompson/O’Hair	-8	$165,000

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Kevin Tway, Rory Sabbatini all but run away with QBE Shootout title

Kevin Tway and a red-hot Rory Sabbatini shot a 12-under 60 to win by two strokes at the QBE Shootout.

A fuller circle happened in the winner’s circle at the QBE Shootout on Sunday.

Earlier in the week, tournament founder and host Greg Norman said it was a full-circle moment, with Bob Tway, who had beaten Norman by holing out a bunker shot in the 1986 PGA Championship, serving as caddie for his son, Kevin, at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.

Then Tway and a red-hot Rory Sabbatini all but ran away in the better-ball format, shooting a 12-under 60 to win by two strokes over Jason Kokrak and J.T. Poston at 31-under 185. They split $870,000.

“That’s the big thing is you’re right there,” Bob Tway said. “It doesn’t get any better than that. When you’re outside the ropes, you’re just watching. This was a lot of fun. Rory played unbelievable today.”

Kevin Tway certainly has heard about the bunker shot, and even tried to recreate it.

“I’ve seen it on TV many times,” he said. “It was before I was born. I know what kind of wedge he used. I’ve actually tried to hit the shot he made. We had the National Championship at Inverness my sophomore year (at Oklahoma State) and we all took his wedge from the clubhouse to see if we could make it and no one could. We’ll leave that one to him.”

When the final round started, five teams were tied for the lead with another a stroke back.

Kokrak and Poston, both tournament rookies, looked like they were going to grab the win, building a four-stroke lead after eight holes. But they bogeyed No. 9, and parred Nos. 10-12 to open the door.

Sabbatini, 43, came charging through.

Sabbatini, who had played in nine previous Shootouts without threatening to win, made five birdies on his own ball from Nos. 6-10, after the team bogeyed No. 5, to tie for the lead, and added another on No. 11. They eagled No. 14 to take the lead for good, and followed with birdies on Nos. 15, 17 and 18 to close it out.

Walking in the win. 🚶
Celebrating in style. 🐶

Rory Sabbatini and @KevinTway shoot a 12-under 60 to claim the @QBEShootout title. pic.twitter.com/VaLcRWXXVE

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2019

“We tried to do an interpretation of AimPoint,” Sabbatini said, referring to the green-reading system. “I don’t know if we were doing it correct or not. It seemed to work pretty good. Maybe it was pure luck, but it was something we tried this week.”

First-round leaders Harold Varner III and Ryan Palmer, and Brendon Todd and Billy Horschel tied for third, three back.

European Ryder Cup veterans Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter went 5 under on the last four holes to finish fifth.

“He played incredible today,” Kokrak said of Poston. “I really kind of just scraped it around.”

So it was a day for the Tways, with Bob caddying for his son for the first time since 2011.

“It was nice to have dad out there,” Kevin, 31, said. “It’s been a while since he caddied for me. He comes out a lot, but to have him right by my side was fun, and to play well and win with him there was also a lot of fun.”

And a bit of a reconnecting for Sabbatini and the elder Tway, 60. Sabbatini was a junior golfer in the early 1990s playing in the Tournament of Champions at Lost Tree in Edmond, Oklahoma, and played with Tway.

“Then obviously I got the privilege of playing many years with him on tour,” Sabbatini said. “He’s always been a great competitor. Obviously Kevin’s uncle caddies on tour, so there’s quite a family history on the PGA Tour, which is impressive.

“I’ve never really gotten to know Bob on a personal level, I’ve always known him on a professional level and he’s always been, what an amazing guy. It’s a testament to his son here really following his dad’s footsteps.”

Tway played first most of the time, and was in good enough position for Sabbatini to go more at the pins and putts.

“He took a lot of pressure off me so it allowed me to be a little freer and allowed me to be a little aggressive out,” Sabbatini said.

“Today it was mostly Rory,” said Tway, who said Sabbatini shot a 63 on his own ball. “I was just kind of hanging out. He played unbelievable from hole 6 through 10. I think you birdied every hole, then an eagle after that. So I was just trying to put it in play so I can take the pressure off him, because he was hot.”

Sabbatini had putted badly during Saturday’s modified alternate shot format, but made Tway a promise.

“After my very poor performance putting (Saturday), which I wasn’t very happy with, I was determined to come out today,” Sabbatini said. “As I said to Kevin, (Sunday) I’ll show up. Took a few holes to warm up.”

“You showed up,” Tway said.

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QBE Shootout final round tee times, TV information

The 2019 QBE Shootout is underway at the Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida.

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The 2019 QBE Shootout is underway at the Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida.

The 54-hole event started Friday. There are 12 two-player teams competing for $3.5 million in prize money. Five teams are tied for the lead entering the final round.

LPGA star Lexi Thompson is playing for the fourth year in a row. She’s paired with Sean O’Hair, who has won the QBE with two different partners, Steve Stricker and Kenny Perry.

Patton Kizzire and Brian Harman won in 2019. Greg Norman is the tournament host.

All times listed below are ET.

TV info

Sunday, Golf Channel, Noon-4 p.m.

Final round tee times

Tee time	Players
9:50 a.m.	Patton Kizzire-Brian Harman; Lexi Thompson-Sean O’Hair
10:05 a.m.	Kevin Kisner-Charley Hoffman; Matthew Wolff-Viktor Hovland
10:20 a.m.	Chez Reavie-Kevin Chappell; Andrew Putnam-Corey Conners
10:35 a.m.	J.T. Poston-Jason Kokrak; Ian Poulter-Graeme McDowell
10:50 a.m.	Harold Varner III-Ryan Palmer; Rory Sabbatini-Kevin Tway
11:05 a.m.	Brendon Todd-Billy Horschel; Bubba Watson-Charles Howell III

[opinary poll=”would-you-rather-watch-team-golf-or-indi” customer=”golfweek”]

From 2,006 to 70: Brendon Todd continues whirlwind fall season

Brendon Todd, busy returning text messages and phone calls since his move up the Fed Ex Cup ladder, has a few simple goals for 2020.

Brendon Todd’s fall bag of surprises delivered one final invitation a week ago when he was a last-minute replacement for injured Brandt Snedeker to the QBE Shootout.

“I was surprised with the phone call inviting me. This is truly a big bonus week in an event I had always heard about from the players,” Todd said.

Todd’s first appearance in the QBE Shootout comes on the front end of a 2019-20 PGA Tour season that included back-to-back victories in the Bermuda Championship and the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico.

The University of Georgia product almost won a third straight at the RSM Classic, leading at one point before finishing fourth.

MORE: Five teams shared lead at QBE Shootout

All of this coming from a player who ended 2018 ranked 2,006 in the world and now is 70th.

Todd is running a bit on fumes.

“I’m playing good but not at the full energy level, I’ll make it,” he said. “I’m anxious to play well and then I’ll take a two week break over the holidays.”

Todd, busy returning text messages and phone calls since his move up the Fed Ex Cup ladder to No. 1, has a few simple goals for 2020.

“Win another tournament, make and win the FedEx Cup,” he said. “I’m not big on a lot of goals.”

[opinary poll=”would-you-rather-watch-team-golf-or-indi” customer=”golfweek”]

QBE Shootout: Reaction to the Patrick Reed caddie altercation

Three players in the QBE Shootout field – Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell – reacted to caddie Kessler Karain’s actions.

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Three of the world-class players in the QBE Shootout field – Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell – gave their reaction to the replacement of caddie Kessler Karain on brother-in-law Patrick’s Reed bag following a heckling and shoving incident Saturday at the President’s Cup in Australia.

Partisan crowds have heckled Reed following his rules violation a week before at the Hero World Challenge. Karain was riding in a golf cart when he jumped off and got into a short tussle with a fan before returning to the cart.

“After hearing fans in Australia for three days I had enough and got off the cart shoved him, said a couple of things with expletives and then left,” Karain said in a statement.

OPINION: Actions of Reed’s caddie stain Presidents Cup

The PGA Tour announced following play that Karain will not be working as Reed’s caddie during Sunday’s singles matches, which started Saturday night in the U.S.

“I’ve experienced the heckling but it’s a double-edge sword,” Watson said. “Things have been said to me and Ted (caddie) but I never had it go further like in Australia.

“I’ve always been playful in these situations and never had a problem. Then guys like Matt Kuchar would stop and point his finger at someone and it always stopped.”

MORE: Five teams shared lead at QBE Shootout

“The situation in Australia became polarizing and I’m not polarizing but my partner (Poulter) is, especially in the Ryder Cup,” McDowell said.

“The heckling, some of it very deep, happens every Ryder Cup but you roll with it,” Poulter said.

Poulter was asked how he responded.

“I have a solution to fans heckling, which I’ve done: hit it close on the next hole and make a birdie,” he said.

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Four teams join Harold Varner III, Ryan Palmer at top of QBE Shootout leaderboard

At the end of the second round of the QBE Shootout, there’s quite the traffic jam atop the leaderboard after movement in both directions.

NAPLES, Fla. – Saturday is known as moving day in professional golf.

At the end of the second round of the QBE Shootout, there’s quite the traffic jam after movement in both directions at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.

First-round leaders Harold Varner III and Ryan Palmer stumbled a bit on a windy day in the modified alternate shot format, but when it was all over, they still had a piece of the lead – albeit with four other teams including Jason Kokrak and J.T. Poston, Kevin Tway and Rory Sabbatini, Bubba Watson and Charles Howell III, and Brendon Todd and Billy Horschel.

“It was a grind,” Varner said. “I enjoy that part of golf. It’s way more fun when you have someone else with you. It’s nice to have a chance (Sunday).”

“It’s a tough format,” Poston said.

“If we roll a few more in (on Sunday) … we didn’t waste any today,” Kokrak said.

All five sides are at 19 under, and former Ryder Cup teammates Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter are one shot behind that.

None of the 12 players in the top six groups have won the tournament except for Poulter, who won with Dustin Johnson back in 2010.

Teams will play better ball in Sunday’s final round.

The wind and the format led to quite a few bogeys, including by Varner and Palmer on No. 11 after both hit it into either side of the woods. Kokrak and Poston couldn’t take advantage, with Kokrak hitting it into the greenside bunker, and both teams left with bogeys.

Tway and Sabbatini had the lead at that point, but only had one birdie in the last six holes.

Todd, who had back-to-back wins a month ago and was a last-minute replacement for and injured Brandt Snedeker, and Horschel birdied two of the last four.

“I knew when Brendon was going to be my partner when Sneds had to withdraw I got a better partner – sorry, Sneds,” Horschel said with a chuckle. “But Brendon’s been playing really well, two wins, fourth-place finish, I was probably the happiest guy in the world at that point.”

Watson and Howell had back-to-back birdies to finish.

“We were good today and it was really windy,” Watson said. “Solid off the tee with two balls in fairway every hole makes it easier in this format. Sunday the routine is simple — look for birdies.”

McDowell and Poulter were hoping for some wind, got their wish, and took advantage with a 7-under 65 to tie for the best score of the day.

“We wanted a tougher day today because we needed to make a move,” McDowell said. “I think through eight holes we were 4 under today in modified alternate and that’s what we were in scramble (Friday), so we knew we were doing OK.”

McDowell had a little fun with his partner.

“Anytime you’re playing partner format with this guy, it’s always fun when he’s in the mood,” McDowell said. “Obviously his Ryder Cup record speaks for itself and he was in the mood today, so it was fun.”

“I’m always in the mood,” Poulter responded, “It’s just not always the right mood.

“We’ve obviously timed the gap to the front, and obviously if we can go out there (Sunday) and play like we should, then hopefully we can go close,” he added.

The leaderboard after Saturday’s round was quite close enough.

Round 2 scores

Position	Players	R1 score	R2 score	To par
T-1	Brendon Todd-Billy Horschel	59	66	-19
T-1	Bubba Watson-Charles Howell III	59	66	-19
T-1	Rory Sabbatini-Kevin Tway	58	67	-19
T-1	Harold Varner III-Ryan Palmer	55	70	-19
T-1	J.T. Poston-Jason Kokrak	57	68	-19
6	Ian Poulter-Graeme McDowell	61	65	-18
T-7	Chez Reavie-Kevin Chappell	60	67	-17
T-7	Andrew Putnam-Corey Conners	61	66	-17
T-7	Kevin Kisner-Charley Hoffman	58	69	-17
10	Matthew Wolff-Viktor Hovland	65	65	-14
11	Patton Kizzire-Brian Harman	62	72	-10
12	Lexi Thompson-Sean O’Hair	64	74	-6

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