Cameron Tringale is closing in on accomplishing a childhood dream this weekend. In doing so, he also could lose a title that only he holds. Not that he minds.
A victory at the Genesis Scottish Open would be a first PGA Tour title for the 34-year-old Californian. It would also mean losing the distinction of being the PGA Tour player with the most career earnings without a win. Of course, it’s hard feeling too bad for someone who has made nearly $17 million playing golf.
Things weren’t nearly as easy for Tringale on Day 2 at the Renaissance Club following an opening 61, but a Friday 72 still gives him a three-shot lead over Gary Woodland and Doug Ghim heading into the weekend.
“It would mean a whole lot,” Tringale told reporters on Thursday. “I haven’t had a professional win on my own, and obviously Scotland is where golf started, so this place is special. Everyone here has appreciation for the game. It’s unique and I would say it would be a good tune-up for St Andrews.”
Tringale has four runner-up finishes and five third-place finishes in his PGA Tour career. And thanks to the tour’s new alliance with the DP World Tour, the Scottish Open would count as an official PGA Tour win for the first time.
If Tringale were to win, the title of biggest earner without a win would go back to journeyman Brian Davis ($13,382,405). But a fellow Brit, Tommy Fleetwood ($12,798,632) is close. Of course, in Fleetwood’s case (cc: Paul Azinger), he has five DP World Tour titles.
In any event, here are our other takeaways from Friday at the Scottish Open.
Rickie Fowler(!) leads the #SB2K crew
We saw the boys having a good time in Ireland earlier this week, but Fowler has climbed into contention after a second consecutive 69 in Scotland. Not that we should be too surprised given his love of links golf and his T-6 at the star-studded JP McMananus Pro-Am last week.
Still, it was an eye-opener to see him besting buddies Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas through 36 holes. Especially considering Spieth was four under at one point on Friday before four late bogeys dropped him to even par.
Most surprising, though, was Justin Thomas. The reigning PGA champ and one of the betting favorites to win next week at St. Andrews shot a second-round 77 to miss the cut by seven shots.
No matter what they do this week, Thomas and Spieth will have plenty of backers at St. Andrews. But Fowler won’t even be in the field at the Open unless he grabs one of the four remaining spots in the field up for grabs this week. So far, so good.
Xander Schauffele stays hot
OK, this American star continuing to roll definitely wasn’t a surprise. Schauffele shot the low round of the day, a 65 that included this birdie chip-in on his final hole:
Pretty sporty. At T-4, Schauffele, who is coming off victories at the Travelers Championship and JP McManus Pro-Am, is in position to win a third consecutive event—after seemingly going an eternity without winning. That being said, he still didn’t have as much fun out there as these guys. …
A caddie (and his player) wins a car!
We’ve seen many tour pros win cars for holes-in-one throughout the years, but I believe this is the first time we’ve seen a caddie get one too. Cool move by tournament sponsor Genesis to offer this double prize claimed by Jordan Smith and his looper, Sam Matton.
Despite windy conditions, Smith aced the 193-yard 17th hole, taking advantage of the pin being placed in a bowl on the left side of the green.
“We’ve been chatting about it during the week saying that pin over there could be a good chance for a hole-in-one. Just happened today,” Smith said. “Hit 6-iron and the wind was howling off the right. Anything right of the pin would catch the slope and lucky enough that it did. Even though we couldn’t see it, the crowd went nuts.”
And the longtime friends went pretty nuts as well. Here’s the shot:
And at T-4, these guys have a great chance at piling up plenty more loot over the weekend.