Bryson DeChambeau dominated the second day of the BMW Championship at the Caves Valley Golf Club course on Friday, firing two eagles in a 12-under-par 60 that gave him a one-shot clubhouse lead midway through the second round.
Long-hitting American DeChambeau had a six-foot birdie putt at the 18th that would have given him just the 13th sub-60 round in US PGA Tour history but he, just, could not get it to drop.
The world No 6, who won his first major title at the US Open last year, hit just seven of 14 fairways in regulation but he split the fairway at the 18th, where his approach hit the pin before spinning back to six feet.
“I misread the putt, so, one of those things,” DeChambeau said.
“It was an awesome opportunity.
“I had a couple shots, a couple birdie opportunities at 17 and 18, and didn’t happen but still really proud of the way I handled myself, and it’s great to feel some pressure again which is awesome.”
Despite the dazzling display, DeChambeau’s 16-under par total of 128 put him just one stroke in front of his nearest rival in the clubhouse (Patrick Cantlay) who had 10 birdies and a bogey in a nine-under-par 63 for 129.
Cantlay was tied for the lead after his 10th birdie of the day at the 16th but was in a greenside bunker at the par-three 17th where he failed to muster a par.
DeChambeau was without blemish in a round that started with a 10-foot birdie at the first, followed by a 12-foot birdie at the second. He eagled the fourth, where his 273-yard second shot left him an 11-footer.
With birdies at five, seven and eight – where he rolled in a 30-foot putt – DeChambeau was seven-under for the round heading into the back nine.
Birdies at the 11th, 12th and 14th had him neck-and-neck with Cantlay before another impressive eagle at 16th.
“I’ll look back on this round and gain a lot of momentum from today.”
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