Steele takes one-shot lead at Honda Classic, but Champion Course taking its toll
Brendan Steele took the lead by one stroke at the midway point of the Honda Classic on Friday, but it was far from being easy.
And Steele expects the same thing for the remainder of the tournament.
“I’m looking forward to the grind this weekend,” Steele said. “I know it’s going to be really hard around here. There’s really no easy shots, so you’ve got to be ready.”
Steele bogeyed two of the final three holes Friday but managed a round of 3-under-par 67 after his opening round of 68 on Thursday. That gives him a two-day total of 5-under 135 on the chilly, wind-blown Champion Course at PGA National Resort & Spa.
In a three-way tie for second were Luke Donald (70-66—136), Lee Westwood (67-69—136) and J.T. Poston (67-69—136).
Steele, 36, gave a quick look at his immediate future.
“It’s hard to do this for four days,” he said. “There’s really no easy shots out there, no easy holes. Everything is stressful. You try to take breaks between shots out there whenever you can and just save a little bit of mental and physical energy.”
There’s a large contingent of players who will back up Steele’s assessment of how draining playing the Champion Course can be.
One of those players would be hometown favorite Brooks Koepka. This tournament has been the equivalent of a quadruple-bogey for Koepka.
Going into the Honda Classic, Koepka had to be considered the favorite — not only a fan favorite, but also favored to win the tournament.
After all, Koepka — who attended Cardinal Newman High in Palm Beach — is the No. 3 golfer in the world, has four major championships at the top of his resume and has won $30 million-plus on the tour.
On Friday, he failed to make the cut, shooting 74-74 for an 8-over 148 total.
Curious minds at the tournament were possibly more interested in Koepka’s poor showing than Steele leading the tournament.
To his credit, after Friday’s round, Koepka refused to hide. Instead, he stepped up and explained his difficulties.
“I just haven’t putted well, and every time I have missed one, I’ve hit some good shots but I just end up in the worst place possible,” he said.” It is very easy out here to turn a decent round into what can be a little bit of a disaster. You can rack up some big numbers pretty quickly.”
There was another famous local who, like Koepka, did not make the cut.
Rickie Fowler, who lives in Jupiter and has won more than $38 million, shot 76-68 for a 4-over 144 total and also will not be back for the final two days.
And, as most fans remember, just a year ago Koepka and Fowler finished tied for second in the Honda behind winner Keith Mitchell.
Now they will be watching the final two rounds on TV.
However, one local definitely still in the hunt is Daniel Berger.
Berger, who grew up in Palm Beach and graduated from William Dwyer High School, went 69-70—139 for the first two days and was four strokes back of Steele, well in striking distance with two rounds remaining.
“So far, it’s been fantastic,” Berger said. “I hung in there well. Today was a tough day, early start with a 7:15 tee time, cold, windy. So, overall, I’m very pleased with my performance.”
Berger hopes history might be on his side.
“This is my sixth time playing this event,” he said. “I know the scores don’t really get out-of-control low on this course. You really just hang in there as much as possible.”
Hanging in there is what the entire field has done for the first two days, and apparently they expect nothing less for the final two days.
