Doug Ghim is making a statement at the John Deere Classic, leading the tournament after 36 holes with a one-shot advantage. The 26-year-old PGA Tour veteran holed out from the fairway for the second consecutive day, including an impressive eagle from 179 yards on the par-4 15th.
Despite a late bogey on the 18th hole, Ghim sits at 12-under 130, marking his first-ever 36-hole lead in his six years on tour. The John Deere Classic, a tournament known for producing first-time winners, is shaping up to be an exciting weekend.
Ghim’s Remarkable Back-to-Back Hole-Outs
Ghim’s stellar performance at the John Deere Classic has been highlighted by his ability to hole out from the fairway on consecutive days. In the opening round, he made an eagle from the short par-4 sixth. On Friday, it was from 179 yards on the par-4 15th, where he again holed out for eagle.
“I guess holing out two days in a row is always nice,” Ghim said, clearly thrilled by the feat. “It’s been a couple years since I holed out from the fairway. To get two back-to-back days is great.”
Despite this exciting play, Ghim’s journey hasn’t been flawless. After gaining a two-shot lead, he hit his tee shot left into the trees and down a cart path, resulting in a punch-out and a chip to 18 feet. He missed the ensuing putt for a bogey, but his 3-under 68 kept him in a strong position heading into the weekend.
A Competitive Field
Ghim’s 12-under 130 score gives him a narrow lead, but the tournament is still wide open. Davis Thompson, the defending champion, posted a 63 on Friday and sits one shot back at 11-under 131. Max Homa, who had a solid 68, is also in contention, along with several others at or near the top of the leaderboard.
Homa, who has struggled to put together four consistent rounds, spoke about his strategy for the weekend. “You’re going to have to shoot really low,” Homa said.
“If you went out there and tried to do something specific, I’m not so sure that is going to work. Somebody can go out there and shoot 11 under and jump everybody. So just go do what we did today and play another round of golf.”
Notable Cuts and High Drama
As the weekend draws near, the cut line has become a focal point. The cut was set at 5-under 137, with late drama affecting who made it to the weekend. Rikuya Hoshino and Jesper Svensson both birdied their final holes to push the cut line to 5 under, but Paul Peterson’s bogey on the last hole moved it back to 4 under.
In the final group, Brendan Valdes made a clutch birdie on the 18th hole, helping to move the cut back to 5 under and eliminating 14 players from weekend play. Among those who made the cut were Rickie Fowler and Jake Knapp, ensuring they would have another shot at the title on the weekend.
The Road Ahead
As the tournament progresses, Ghim remains focused, even though he’s well aware of the challenges that lie ahead. “The person that’s going to win this tournament will be in the 20-under par area, so last time I checked I’m not there yet,” he said. “I don’t feel like I’m in the lead, and I’m just happy that I get to be teeing off late tomorrow in contention.”
With several players close behind and a forecast for rain on Saturday, it’s clear that the next two rounds will be crucial. The John Deere Classic has produced more first-time winners than any other PGA Tour event since 1970, and Ghim could be poised to add his name to that list.
Doug Ghim’s impressive play at the John Deere Classic has earned him his first 36-hole lead on the PGA Tour, thanks to back-to-back hole-outs and steady play. However, with strong competition from the likes of defending champion Davis Thompson and Max Homa, the race for the title is far from over.
Ghim will need to keep his focus and continue his strong play if he’s to secure his first victory. The weekend promises plenty of excitement as the golfers battle for supremacy at one of the PGA Tour’s most unique and competitive events.
