Ernie Els moved atop the leaderboard with a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead through two rounds of the Regions Tradition, the first major of the PGA Tour Champions season, on Friday in Birmingham, Ala.
Els went birdie-bogey-birdie-birdie over the final four holes at Greystone Golf & Country Club, his seventh and final birdie of the day dropping at the par-5 18th to take him to 10-under 134.
England’s Paul Broadhurst shot a 68 to take sole possession of second place at 9-under 135. Defending champion Steve Stricker shot his second straight 68 and was tied for third at 8 under with Timothy O’Neal (69 Friday).
Els’ 66 was tied for the low round of the day with Robert Karlsson of Sweden, who jumped into a tie for fifth at 7 under.
“The greens were a little bit softer so I felt like if you’re really on your game you can get a good score, and I felt like I did that,” Els said. “I didn’t hit too many close shots, but I made some good putts, then on the par-5s I was able to get up and down for birdie so it was a good day.”
Els, the World Golf Hall of Famer, former world No. 1 and four-time major champion, is in the hunt to win his first senior major title. The 53-year-old has just three wins on the PGA Tour Champions, including at the Hoag Classic last March.
Broadhurst, on the other hand, won the 2016 Senior Open Championship and the 2018 Senior PGA Championship. He compiled five birdies and one bogey to cruise to his 68. He’ll be in the final pairing with Els on Saturday.
“I’ve known (Els) since he was about 15 or 16,” Broadhurst said. “We’ve played amateur golf, junior golf, (we) go way, way back. So it’s always a privilege to play with him. I try and work off his rhythm. Whenever I’ve played with him I’ve watched his rhythm and try and play off of it because it’s so good.”
Stricker recovered from a double bogey at the par-4 third hole by putting seven birdies on his card, including No. 18 to bring himself within striking distance.
“I’m doing some good things at times, and I’m doing some dumb things at time, so I have to clean it up heading into the weekend,” Stricker said. “I’m not too far back right now and there’s a lot of golf left.”
Stricker has two victories and two second-place finishes in his past four starts at the Regions Tradition.
Broadhurst and O’Neal were first-round co-leaders with Billy Andrade, who followed his first-round 67 with a 2-over 74 to drop back to 3 under and a tie for 22nd.
–Field Level Media