Rickie Fowler closed with four straight birdies for a 6-under 65 on Friday, taking a one-shot lead over Justin Thomas into the weekend at the Phoenix Open. Fowler’s birdie run started at the par-5 15th and ended with his 8-foot putt on the par-4 18th, putting him at 13-under 129 through two rounds.
Thomas, his roommate for the week, was bogey-free until he pulled his approach on the long par-4 14th and couldn’t get up-and-down. He responded with a two-putt birdie on 15 and closed with three straight pars and stands at 12 under 130.
Kentuckian JB Holmes stands at five under 137 and is tied for 24th place while Nashville’s Brandt Snedeker is tied for 40th at three under. Franklin’s Kenny Perry failed to make the cut.