Keegan Bradley is simply having fun.
MJ Daffue is treating every round as if it’s a Monday qualifying event.
Sergio Garcia is putting with his eyes closed.
A lot is happening in the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson.
Bradely, who won the PGA Championship as a 2011 rookie, shot a 65 Friday to take a two-shot lead entering Saturday’s third round. Bradley, 34, hasn’t won since the 2018 BMW Championship.
“I had a blast today playing,” Bradley said. “It’s so fun to be done with the round, done with 36 holes and say, ‘Man, that was a fun time.’ Sometimes it’s not fun at all. What a great day, and I’m bringing a lot to the weekend that I’m happy about.”
J.T. Poston and Charley Hoffman are two shots off the lead. Poston shot a 67 Friday. Hoffman fired a 69.
Daffue, has made a habit of using Monday qualifying to make into tournaments. He’s done so 9 of his past 14 tries, including Monday in a playoff.
“In all honesty, I feel like this game in general, every round you play, if you putt 18 times for birdie, you should be all right,” Daffue said. “When you get into a playoff you can’t just make a par. You’ve got to make birdies and get through. I guess every round to me, I just take it as a Monday qualifier.”
Garcia, who won the 2017 Masters, revealed that he isn’t looking at the hole when he’s putting. Garcia has shot back-to-back rounds of 68 and stands seven shots back.
“I’ve gone on and off (with it), but like (The Masters) … I won it playing with my eyes closed every single putt and some of the other wins, too. I feel like it gives me a little more freedom to feel the stroke … sometimes we get too focused on trying to make it perfect and kind of following with the eyes and everything. So, this way I just feel it and I just let my natural ability kind of take over instead of telling myself what to do.”
Spectators are not allowed at this year’s Sanderson Farms tournament because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Play continues through Sunday. The tournament is televised each day on the Golf Channe
