Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele shoot tournament record 59 to lead Zurich Classic

AVONDALE, La. — Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are a superb group even after they’re enjoying for money and never only a flag.

Cantlay holed a 25-foot eagle putt early and chipped in from 40 toes for birdie late, whereas Schauffele contributed six birdies of his personal, and their three straight birdies to shut gave them a 13-under 59 in fourballs Thursday to steer the Zurich Basic of New Orleans.

It set a match document because the Zurich Basic switched to group play in 2017, and the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup companions had been keen to say a chunk of golf’s magic quantity.

“I have never achieved it earlier than. I do not assume Pat has, both. I will depend in my guide,” Schauffele stated.

They’d a one-shot lead over the group of Matthew NeSmith and Taylor Moore. The group at 61 included Robert Garrigus and Tommy Gainey, and Aaron Rai and David Lipsky, two groups which have had their share of exercise off the course.

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and Ryan Palmer had been 5 photographs behind at 64.

The second spherical strikes to foursomes, and whereas alternate is the tougher of the format, Cantlay and Schauffele have put collectively a 4-0 mark of their partnerships on the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne and he 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

“It is simply the primary quarter. We’re just one forward,” Cantlay stated. “However we’re going right into a format on Friday that we actually like – I believe Xander and I actually like alternate shot. It is one in all our strengths for the week, and we’re actually wanting ahead to it.”

Moore was fortunate to have a lot energy in any respect.

He was within the emergency room Wednesday morning from meals poisoning, obtained some fluids and nausea medication and eventually was capable of hold some meals down Thursday morning.

“Simply tried to complete each gap,” Moore stated. “That was form of a win inside its personal proper.”

Lipsky averted the hospital, although he was concerned in a automobile accident earlier within the week. Turns on the market was a automobile in entrance of him that had damaged down, and as Lipsky went to vary lanes he stated the driving force behind him slammed on the brakes and hit him.

“I am all proper. I believe the opposite two drivers had been advantageous,” Lipsky stated. “Yeah, I used to be just a little little bit of a busy starting to the week.”

The shock was Garrigus and Gainey, each sponsor exemptions, becoming a member of the group at 61. Garrigus was within the information earlier within the week when Golfweek reported and Golf Channel confirmed with Garrigus that he’s making use of for a conflicting occasion launch to play within the first Saudi-funded LIV Golf competitors.

The PGA Tour has till Might 10 to determine whether or not to grant him a launch to play in London per week earlier than the U.S. Open. The highest gamers – that will not embody Garrigus, whose world rating is at No. 1,043 – have stated they aren’t within the Greg Norman-run league providing a $20 million purse and $4 million to the winner.

Garrigus informed Golf Channel that he was targeted solely on the Zurich Basic, and loads of focus gave the impression to be in place. Gainey contributed six birdies, whereas Garrigus had 5.

That was the trick on a windy day on the TPC Louisiana, each gamers contributing. Cantlay and Schauffele – who’ve gone on holidays collectively after they weren’t representing their nation within the cups – had been extraordinarily efficient on the greens.

Solely three of their 11 sub-par holes had been from putts inside 10 toes.

“We performed very well, made lots of putts at the moment on a day that was just a little tough with the wind and did not birdie lots of the identical holes,” Cantlay stated. “Whenever you try this on this format, that is actually the important thing.”

Equally spectacular was the father-son duo of Jay and Invoice Haas. The 68-year-old father had 4 of their seven birdies, three of them from the 15-foot vary, of their 65.