Nick Watney takes the share of the second spot after round two of The Barclays
Nick Watney posted a six-under par 65 in the opening round of The Barclays – The US PGA Tour Playoffs’ first tournament – and settled for a share of the second position at the Bethpage State Park, in Farmingdale, on Thursday, August 23, 2012.
Watney started off on the back nine of the course and carded two birdies on the first four holes that he played. A double bogey on the fifth hole (No. 14) offset his under-par score.
Thereafter, he managed to pick up some pace and sank another two birdies to finish the back nine with a two-under par score. Another four birdie putts on the front nine allowed him to sit one stroke behind the leader Padraig Harrington.
According to him, the course was quite shorter compared to what it was for the US Open in 2009. He told that it was really easy for the players to create birdie chances because of the softness of the greens.
He stated that the players with accuracy off the tee can really take advantage of the course and offer a good competition to their rivals.
“Well, all you can do is go out there and first and foremost try and hit the ball in the fairway because the rough is up pretty good,” he said. “It's not quite U.S. Open level, but the rough up makes it much more difficult to play from there. Driving the
ball in the fairway is a huge key”.
However, one cannot underestimate the venue, as it can get tougher as the tournament progresses because of its history in challenging players in the later stages of the events.
“I don't expect these conditions to continue. I think a few tees were moved up, and I think 7 being a par-5 makes the par seem easier than a par-70, which it was in the Open,” he said. “But I think the course once they move some tees back and it gets a little
bit firmer, I think the toughness will come back”.
Brian Harman was the other player, who posted a 65 and shared the second spot with the help of seven birdies against a lone bogey.
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