Marquee names headed home early include Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey.
Bubba Watson felt his game was still on an upward trend coming into the Genesis Open. On Saturday his assessment was correct, posting a 65 to vault into the solo lead.
With the opportunity to assume the mantle of Australia’s No.1-ranked male golfer by claiming the Joe Kirkwood Cup on Sunday, Leishman’s position at the top of the leaderboard alongside Adam Bland after 36 holes is to be expected but Pete Senior’s spot just inside the top 10 is a shock to all but his fellow professionals.
The crowd came to see Jason Day make his first appearance at the Emirates Australian Open in four years, but it was a 22-year-old rookie who stole the first-round lead at The Australian Golf Club.
Australian Golf Digest
