Louis Oosthuizen bogeyed the 18th on Friday to drop five back of fit-again Zack Sucher at the Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands.
The leader at halfway says he found wrestling with chronic leg problems on the PGA Tour harder than wrestling alligators.
The 32-year-old from Alabama is finally feeling healthy again after knee surgery sidelined him for 13 months following the 2017 Travelers Championship.
A 5-under 65 in the rain Friday morning at TPC River Highlands and his 11-under 129 total held up in the afternoon sunshine for a two-stroke lead midway through the Travelers.
Sucher grew up in south Alabama doing ‘swamp stuff’ like wrestling alligators, also played high school basketball. He suffered through chronic leg problems from that sport which led to the surgery for a torn knee tendon and cartilage. Sucher then worked his way back and is playing in just his fourth Tour event this year. He gained a share of the lead on his final putt Thursday night and kept that momentum going with a 30 on his front nine Friday.
‘It’s nice,’ he said. ‘First year I can remember in a long time where I’m pain free and it’s feeling really good.’
Chez Reavie and Keegan Bradley were two shots back. Reavie, coming off a strong performance last week, shot a 64. Bradley had a 66, making an eagle in the rain from about 80 yards on the par-four 15th.
Jason Day made some adjustments to his putting game after an even-par first round. He made four straight birdies after opening with a par, shot a bogey-free 63 and was among seven players at seven under.
‘Birdieing four early in my round kind of settled everything, because I was on the outside looking in,’ he said.
Thirteen players share 13th place and include Kevin Kisner, Patrick Reed and South Africa’s Oosthuizen.
It was another great day for the South African, who was again consistent from tee to green. He hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation. The putter was also doing the business with no misses inside 10 feet in round two.
An approach from inside 80 feet on the sixth left him less than two foot for birdie, which he duly tapped in. His putt on the ninth green was anything but as he found the bottom of the cup from 34 feet.
Oosthuizen was left with another kick-in birdie putt when his 151 yard approach culminated in two feet on the 14th. A late slip took some shine off his day as he safely found the 18th fairway off the tee. He was left 208 yards to the pin but missed the green short right as he two-putted for his day’s only drop.
Defending champion Bubba Watson was five under alongside Tommy Fleetwood.
Dylan Frittelli carded matching 70s to miss the cut by two.
