Canadian Savannah Grewal can now say she’s one of few juniors to walk away a champion from Augusta National.

The Mississauga, Ont. native rose to the occasion on Sunday under the spotlight of Golf Channel’s live broadcast to capture the Girls 14-15 division at the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship. With the grandstands looking on, Grewal overcame the  pressure-packed situation to strike a putt inside five feet, the range needed to secure the one-point victory.

The aspiring LPGA professional plays out of Piper’s Heath Golf Club to a 1.0 Handicap. Her 2016 season included four top-10 finishes at American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events. She also competed in the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour professional event in Ontario.

Grewal punched her ticket to the big event by first advancing through local and sub-regional qualifiers at Fox Valley Country Club in Lancaster, N.Y., before winning the regional qualifier at Baltusrol Golf Club.

High fives all around for Savannah Grewal, winner of the Girls 14-15 Division! ? pic.twitter.com/5uClosw6Bo

— Drive, Chip & Putt (@DriveChipPutt) April 2, 2017

Fellow Canadians Carlee Meilleur (Landsdowne, Ont.) and Mia Wong (Markham, Ont.) also competed in the fourth annual championship amongst the 80 other qualifiers (40 male, 40 female).

Meilleur, competing in the Girls 7-9 division, finished T5 with a total score of 17. Wong ended in ninth place with nine total points in the Girls 10-11 division.

Click here for full scoring.

The Canadian equivalent—Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event— will be contested on July 22 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., the Saturday prior to the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. Learn more here.

OTTAWA – For the fourth time, the stars of the LPGA Tour will light up the nation’s capital as Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific have announced that the 2017 CP Women’s Open will return to Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club in August of 2017 (date TBC) to coincide with Canada’s 150 year celebration.

Through its CP Has Heart campaign, CP will once again be making a significant charitable donation to the host community. In the first three years of CP’s title sponsorship of the event, more than $4.3 million has been raised in support of children’s heart health.

The 2017 edition of the CP Women’s Open will mark the championship’s fourth visit to the nation’s capital and third visit to Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, which previously hosted in 1994 and 2008.

“We could not be more excited for the return of the CP Women’s Open to Ottawa and the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club in 2017” said Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “We are proud to add to the nation’s celebration as Canada turns 150. With an outstanding atmosphere and a passionate golfing community, we are confident Ottawa will be the perfect backdrop for the 45^th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.”

The announcement of Ottawa as the 2017 host city coincides with Canada’s 150^th birthday celebration and builds on a partnership between Ottawa Tourism and Golf Canada.

“We are thrilled to welcome the stars of the LPGA back to Ottawa in 2017,” said Dick Brown, President and CEO for Ottawa Tourism.  “The 2017 CP Women’s Open will be a pinnacle event tied to the Canada 150 celebration. In addition, together with Golf Canada, the region will welcome numerous national and international golf championships between 2015 and 2018.”

In 2008, Katherine Hull-Kirk overcame a 6-stroke deficit to claim her first LPGA Tour title during the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club’s centennial year.

Allan Bulloch, President of the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club recalls how the city embraced the tournament in 2008 and anticipates the Club once again rallying around Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

“We are delighted to have been chosen to host the prestigious 2017 CP Women’s Open. This will also be an opportunity for us to show the world class competitors our magnificently redesigned course”

The Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club has welcomed numerous notable championships throughout its 107 years, including the 1994 Du Maurier Ltd. Classic, 2008 Canadian Women’s Open, 1932 Canadian Open and three Canadian Amateur Championships in 1937, 1960 and 1970. The 18-hole championship course that will challenge the world’s best women golfers in 2017 was originally crafted by famed architect Willie Park, and recently redesigned in 2013–2014 by international course designer, Dr. Michael Hurdzan.

The CP Women’s Open consistently draws one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour. The 2015 CP Women’s Open saw 97 of the top 100 players on the current LPGA Tour Official Money List compete in the event, including Smiths Falls, Ontario native and recent LPGA winner, Brooke Henderson who was the top Canadian.

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and to inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Calgary hosted the 2016 edition of the CP Women’s Open, where Ariya Jutanugarn came out on top.

Information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the CP Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – One day after Lexi Thompson couldn’t even tee off until shortly before sunset, she had to get back to the Dinah Shore Course before dawn to start a 28-hole day.

Thompson is excelling under unusual conditions at the ANA Inspiration, and it has put her in prime position to play for her second major title.

Thompson claimed the tournament lead while completing her wind-delayed second round Saturday before moving two shots ahead of Norway’s Suzann Pettersen with a third-round 67 . After an extra-long day of play in wind and sun, Thompson is at 13-under 203 heading into Sunday’s final round.

“I struggled a little bit off the tee and had a few more rough shots than I wanted, but you can’t ever complain about a 5-under round,” Thompson said.

The 22-year-old Thompson’s victory here in 2014 is her only previous major victory, but the U.S. Olympian simply excels at Mission Hills Country Club. She smashed her drives and got great results from her inconsistent putter on the way to six birdies in the third round, keeping a competitive field squarely behind her.

“I just love this golf course,” Thompson said. “I get to hit a lot of drivers, and it just sets up nicely for me all over.”

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 3-under 69 to get to 1-under for the tournament.

Thompson and Pettersen stayed ahead of a field posting unusually low scores, with the 2-over 146 cut matching the lowest cut score in tournament history.

They did it despite intermittent returns of the desert wind that called an early halt to Thursday’s play and forced two days of catch-up, forcing 56 golfers to complete their second rounds on Saturday morning. The field got all caught up on a postcard-perfect desert Saturday, and warm weather is expected Sunday.

“It’s definitely not a usual week, what we’re used to, but it’s a major week,” Thompson said. “We have to deal with the wind conditions and whatever weather we get.”

Pettersen shot a third-round 68 to reach 11 under, while Australia’s Minjee Lee joined a South Korean trio – Inbee Park, So Yeon Ryu and Mi Jung Hur – at 10-under 206. Michelle Wie, Cristie Kerr, world No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn and France’s Karine Icher are five shots behind Thompson at 8 under.

“I think I’ve always said since the first time I saw this place, it really fits my eye,” said Pettersen, a two-time major champion.

“I’m driving the ball well, and that’s a major key on this golf course. I’ve got a big job to do (Sunday). The leaderboard is packed behind me as well. You’ve got to expect to go out there and shoot low. There’s a lot at stake, but I’m all in for it.”

Thompson debuted at the Dinah Shore Course as a 14-year-old amateur in 2009, and she won in 2014, the tournament’s final year as the Kraft Nabisco Championship. She has finished seventh and fifth in the two years since the major’s name change.

Thompson immediately took charge Saturday morning with back-to-back birdies, claiming the outright lead and surging to a second-round 67. After following two birdies with a bogey early in her third round, she settled in and finished the final 14 holes at 4 under.

Wie battled to a third-round 71 while struggling with a nagging back injury during her own 28-hole day. She repeatedly saved par to stay in contention.

“I just hit one shot that was a little bit out of sync and kind of threw my hips out of place,” Wie said. “I think it was just a lot of golf. The two full warmups (and then) 28 holes. Just not a young stallion anymore, I guess.”

HUMBLE, Texas – Sung Kang shot a 1-under 71 to hold a three-shot lead over Rickie Fowler after the third round of the Houston Open on Saturday.

After shooting a tournament course record 9-under 63 on Friday, Kang took a commanding six-shot lead with a 36-hole tournament record of 129 through two rounds.

However, on Saturday, it was Fowler’s day to chase history, shooting a 5-under 67 to trim Kang’s lead as they head into the final round.

After Thursday’s 8-under 64, Fowler held a one-shot lead over Kang after the first round, but slipped to fourth on Friday with a 71. He returned to form on Saturday and has a PGA Tour career-best 22 birdies through three rounds.

Behind Kang and Fowler at 17-under 199 and 14-under 202 through three rounds, respectively, Russell Henley is 13-under 203 and Luke List is 12-under 204. No one else is within eight shots of Kang.

Kang, the 29-year-old South Korean who entered the week ranked No. 202 in the world, could earn an invitation to next week’s Masters with a win on Sunday.

Playing one hole behind Fowler throughout the day, Kang played in the shadows of Fowler’s stardom and the roar of the crowd rooting for a big comeback.

Kang gave up the lead briefly after a putt lipped out of the hole on 16 by taking a full circle around the cup before sneaking out.

On the final two holes of the day, however, it was Fowler who had his share of misfortunes on his putts. He bogeyed on 17 and double-bogeyed on the 18th hole to give Kang a little more breathing room heading into the final round.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was tied for 32nd place after shooting a 74. Dundas, Ont., native Mackenzie Hughes was in a tie for 39th with a 73.

Sunday’s tee times have been moved up to 7:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Central with threesomes off split tees to try to avoid heavy thunderstorms and rainfall expected in the late morning to early afternoon.

Heavy winds approaching 25-30 mph at times and cloudy skies resulted in much higher scores on Saturday than were seen on Friday, with the average score around 1 over par.

Kang will be grouped with Fowler, something both players said they look forward to as they enter the final round. Kang has never led a tournament on the PGA Tour after three rounds. He said he was well aware of Fowler’s pursuit on Saturday, thanks to the crowd.

“I heard a lot of noise in front of us so I was like, ‘Oh, I know something big is going on up there,”’ Kang said.

Fowler said he’s ready to shake off his struggles on the last two holes.

“I drove it well, hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens and made some good putts,” Fowler said. “I’m not looking at the last two holes. It was a great day of golf, and I put myself in a position to win a golf tournament tomorrow.”

Fowler said he likes the challenge of playing from behind and hopes to put some pressure on Kang.

Kang said he’ll be playing conservatively and defensively, especially with the strong possibility of inclement weather on the way.

For the third straight day, however, Kang insisted that he doesn’t have his sights set on earning a last-minute invitation to the Masters.

“Even if I think about it, it’s going to happen or not,” Kang said with a grin. “Why do I want to think about that? I’m so tired right now. I have no power to think about anything.”

MESA, ARIZONA, April 1, 2017 – Liv Cheng (Auckland, New Zealand) made a par on the second playoff hole to win her first career Symetra Tour event on Saturday at the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club. Cheng posted a 2-under, 70 to come from two shots back heading into the day to get into the playoff. Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec, Canada) finished third at 6-under, 210 while Kyung Kim (Chandler, Arizona) finished fourth at 5-under, 211. 

Cheng earns the first place check of $15,000 and moves to fourth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list after three events. She was 72nd entering the week. 

“It feels amazing and I still can’t believe it,” said Cheng. “I’m over the moon excited.”

Cheng made a 17-foot par putt on the 17th hole and a par on 18 to get into the clubhouse with the lead at 7-under, just ahead of Tanguay, who closed at 6-under. With the finish, Tanguay posts her third consecutive top-10 Symetra Tour finish. 

Mina Harigae (Monterey, California), who was the co-leader entering the day, made a 10-foot par putt on the 18th to force the playoff.

“I was out of position with my driver, but I stuck to it and scrambled,” explained Cheng, who hit some tricky shots on the final two holes and in the playoff. “I never gave up and trusted myself and the putts rolled in. I think I had 11 putts on the back nine and that really helped with scoring.”

After two pars on the first playoff hole, Harigae’s second shot went into the hazard on the second playoff hole and that opened the door for Cheng, who was able to drop an 8-footer for par to claim the victory. 

“I feel like we kept going in the bunker together,” said Cheng about the bunker shots both had to pull off in the playoff. “I once again got out of position with my driver, but I scrambled to make the par which was great.”

Cheng attempted just 24 putts on the day.

“My putter feels really good right now, definitely the best club in my bag right now,” said Cheng. 

Cheng had just one top 10 finish over her first two years on Tour. The win certainly puts her in a great spot early in the season.

“I feel really good about my game,” said Cheng. “This is my third year playing on the Symetra Tour and I feel like this year I have the tools in my game to play better and get myself on the LPGA Tour.”

Cheng finished 63rd on the money list in 2016 and 108th as a rookie in 2015. 

“The win this week makes me really happy that the hard work is starting to pay off,” said Cheng. “I’m definitely starting to see results.”

Cheng was a four-time WCC First-Team performer while in college at Pepperdine. 

“After college, I decided that I wanted to play professional golf and pursue a career,” said Cheng. “I’ve seen some of my friends do well on the LPGA and that is where I want to be.”

Cheng grew up playing junior golf with and against world No. 1 Lydia Ko. 

She if the first player from New Zealand to win on the Symetra Tour since 2011 when Cathryn Bristow won. Bristow and Cheng are the only two from New Zealand to win in Tour history. 

Olivia Jordan-Higgins, who has WD’d from the last two events, remains in the top spot on the Volvik Race for the Card money list while Tanguay, who has finished inside the top 10 in all three events, moves from third to second. 

The Tour heads to Northern California next week for the inaugural POC MED Golf Classic at Windsor Golf Club from April 7-9. 

A trio of Canadian girls are gearing up to compete in the 2017 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, prior to the start of the Masters Tournament week.

Canadians Carlee Meilleur, Mia Wong and Savannah Grewal will be among the 80 qualifiers (40 male, 40 female) vying to be crowned champions of their respective age divisions at the fourth annual national championship.

Carlee Meilleur, from Landsdowne, Ont., will compete in the 7-9 age group. The aspiring LPGA professional won the regional qualifier at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass. She credits Brooke Henderson as her hero, and her family’s home on the water made for a compelling story in her feature video.

Markham, Ont. native Mia Wong of the 10-11 age group qualified at the regional qualifier hosted at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., and plays to a 13 Handicap.

Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., plays out of Piper’s Heath Golf Club and also punched her ticket to the championship alongside Wong at Baltusrol.

Amongst tens of thousands of entrants in 250 qualifying events, all three girls secured top-three spots at their respective local qualifiers, top-two finishes at their sub-regionals, followed by wins at their regional events.

A joint initiative by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the Masters and the PGA of America, the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship is a free nationwide youth golf development program open to girls and boys aged 7-15 – competing in separate divisions in four age categories – focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf and tapping the creativity and enthusiasm of young golfers.

Coverage of the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel on April 2.

The Canadian equivalent—Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event— will be contested on July 22 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., the Sunday prior to the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. Learn more here.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – While the entire field at the ANA Inspiration spent the whole day playing catch-up, Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and the Korda sisters managed to get ahead.

Pettersen finished her wind-delayed first round with a 4-under 68 and added a second-round 69 Friday, taking a one-shot lead over rookie Nelly Korda and five other players after two shortened days at the LPGA Tour’s first major of the year.

After an early end to Thursday’s play and a late start on Friday for cleanup from the windstorm, play was halted by darkness with 56 players still on the course. They will complete their second rounds Saturday morning.

“Towards the end of my second round, I was getting a little tired,” said world No. 1 Lydia Ko, who sat three shots off the lead at 4-under 140 after playing 31 holes Friday. “I played 31 holes in Thailand a few weeks ago, so compared to that, this is nothing. That week was a lot of undulation plus a lot of heat. … But it’s been such a long day, and I’m craving some sleep.”

Korda, Inbee Park, Michelle Wie, Cristie Kerr, France’s Karine Icher and Minjee Lee were all one stroke behind Pettersen when play was halted, but Wie and Icher hadn’t completed their second round.

Nelly Korda shot a pair of 69s to climb onto the leaderboard in her first major as a professional. The 18-year-old’s big sister, 24-year-old Jessica, also is in the hunt at 3-under 141.

Pettersen, a two-time major champion, capped her impressive day with a long putt for birdie on her final hole. She is feasting on the Mission Hills Country Club’s par-5s, getting three birdies on the course’s three longest holes in each of her rounds.

“I played fantastic golf all day,” Pettersen said. “You’ve got to be in the mood to fight if you’re a little bit out of position, so I did.”

The first round on Thursday was halted several hours early by 40-mph winds that whipped across the Coachella Valley until midnight. Bulldozers and trucks hit the Dinah Shore Course at dawn, removing a fallen tree and countless branches and leaves from the desert course.

Workers were quick, but the cleanup forced a 90-minute delay to the planned start of Friday’s play. At least the wind largely calmed down and left cooler temperatures at a tournament frequently played in a stifling dry heat.

Jessica and Nelly Korda are the daughters of former Czech tennis stars Petr Korda and Regina Rajchrtova. Their younger brother, 16-year-old Sebastian, is a promising teenage tennis player who just reached the semifinals of the Easter Bowl USTA Junior National Spring Championship just down the road at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The Florida-based family is living in a house in the Palm Springs area for the week, relishing a rare chance for togetherness. While their parents drive between the tennis court and the golf course, the sisters have spent their down time playing with the family’s new Pomeranian – a future gift for their grandparents – and rooting loudly for their favourite players while they watch the Miami Open tennis on television.

“It’s really relaxing, to be completely honest,” Nelly Korda said. “Just chilling and hanging in my room, talking about our tournaments and catching up.”

Jessica Korda is extraordinarily proud of her kid sister’s strong start, but she’s also worried about their season-long bet: Whoever finishes lower on the money list this year has to buy an expensive purse for the other.

“I’m like, ‘Man, one day, I wish I was as good as her,”’ Jessica Korda said with a laugh.

Ko and world No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn are both at 4 under, along with Lexi Thompson and Paula Creamer.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was the only Canadian to complete 36 holes. She shot a 4-over 76 and is 6 over. Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., is 8 over and Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is 3 over, but both golfers have to finish their second round.

Icher left the course Thursday with the first-round lead, but when first-round play finished near lunchtime Friday, she had been joined by Kerr and Germany’s Caroline Masson at 5 under.

Park charged into the lead with two birdies and an eagle on the first six holes of her second round. The seven-time major champion and 2013 winner of this event finished with a pair of 69s.

Park took six months off from golf after winning a gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last summer, healing her injured thumb. While some wondered whether her career was over, she has returned in outstanding form, winning the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore four weeks ago.

“Just looking at the scores, everybody can think it was a good round, but actually (it was) really a nightmare for me on the greens,” Park said. “I struck the ball great. I’m really happy the way I’m hitting the ball, but just putting was very disappointing.”

MESA, ARIZONA, March 30, 2017 – Mina Harigae (Monterey, Calif.), the 2009 Symetra Tour Player of the Year, carded a 4-under, 68 to move into a share of the 36-hole lead at 7-under, 137. Late in the day, Stephanie Kono (Honolulu, Hawaii) made birdie on her last hole to get to 7-under as well. Harigae, who lives ten minutes from Longbow Golf Club, will go for her fourth career win on Saturday in the final round while Kono aims for her first. 

A total of 63 players made the cut, which fell at 3-over 147. 

“My driver was good, my irons were good, but mostly my putter has been solid,” said Harigae, who has six

career top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour. “I’ve played mostly mistake free golf which has really helped me.”

The highlight of her round was the 13th hole, when she chipped in for birdie. 

“I actually didn’t see the golf course at all on that hole,” joked Harigae. “I hit it in the fairway bunker, then I hit it over the green and had an elevated chip and I chipped it in. It was definitely a fun birdie.”

Harigae got into the first LPGA Tour event of the year in the Bahamas to kick off her eighth year on Tour and finished T31, but hasn’t been able to get into events since. Therefore, she decided to play this week in order to keep fresh and because of how close she lives to the course.

“I just wanted to play in a tournament because I’ve been playing well and it has been so much fun playing somewhere so close to my house,” explained Harigae. “This was my home course for the first three years that I lived here so I know it very well.”

Harigae won the Heather Farr at Longbow as a junior.

Kono, who has known Harigae for a long time starting with junior golf, made three birdies and just one bogey to post a 70. She turned in a bogey-free 67 on Thursday.

“I’m playing solid right now and hit a lot of good shots today, but didn’t quite make as many putts as 

yesterday,” said Kono. “I stayed patient today and I am really proud of myself for that.”

Kono has five career top 10 finishes on the Symetra Tour and two of them have come at Longbow Golf Club.

“I feel ready (to win),” said Kono. “It will be fun tomorrow.”

The final group of Harigae, Kono and Emma Talley (Princeton, Ky.) will tee at 8:50 a.m. The Tour has planned a split-tee start in order to allow players ample time to travel to the next event in Northern California at Windsor Golf Club. 

Canadians Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec City) and Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, B.C.) are both at 4-under par and hold shares of seventh place.

GROUP OF THE DAY; TALLEY, LAW, CHENG ALL END T3: Emma Talley (Princeton, Ky.), Bronte Law (Manchester, England) and Liv Cheng (Auckland, New Zealand) played together in rounds one and two and all three stand at 5-under, 139 in a share of third place. 

Talley posted a 4-under, 68 on Friday while Law and Cheng shot 3-under, 69. 

“It’s great to get to play with people you get along with really well,” said Law, who won the ANNIKA Award in 2016. “I’ve been playing with Emma for a long time at college tournaments and national team events and I met Liv this week and have played a few practices rounds with her now and we all get along well.”

Law, who left UCLA with the most wins in school history, is happy with her first two starts on the Symetra Tour.

“I’m really taking it in stride and learning a lot as I go along,” said Law. “It’s my first year out on tour and I’m just trying to make sure I make myself accountable and work really hard because this is a very good tour.”

Talley, who finished T10 at the season opener, closed with four birdies on the back nine. 

“It was a very consistent day, I think I hit 17 greens today,” said Talley, who has four career top 10’s on the Symetra Tour in 16 career starts. “I definitely left some putts out there and I feel confident going into tomorrow.”

Talley finished 26th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list in 2016 in just a half year on Tour.

“It’s a long season and I am enjoying myself and I have a lot of really good friends on Tour,” said Talley. “I played well the first week, I was shaky the second week, but if I stay consistent hopefully I will be there at the end.”

DANIELA IACOBELLI SWITCHES TO LEFT HAND LOW LAST NIGHT: Daniela Iacobelli (Melbourne, Florida) took 33 putting strokes on Thursday and shot a 5-over, 77. She even three-putted from two feet. 

After the round, she went to the practice putting green and decided to switch to a left-hand low putting grip. It seems to have worked as she made birdie on four of her final five holes on Saturday to post a 4-under, 68 in windy and cold morning conditions. 

“I definitely had the rock rolling on the final four or five holes and then I holed out from the bunker on 17,” said Iacobelli. “I left myself a 40-footer on 18 and I was thinking ‘god, just two-putt’ and I did.” 

Iacobelli moved from T115 to T26. 

HUMBLE, Texas – Sung Kang shot a 9-under 63 to take a six-shot lead in a record-breaking second round at the Houston Open on Friday.

After shooting a 65 on Thursday, Kang was at 16-under 128 through two rounds, setting the 36-hole tournament record of 129 by a stroke, set previously by Blaine McCallister in 1993 and Curtis Strange in 1980.

The 29-year-old South Korean, who entered the week ranked No. 202 in the world, bested the tournament course record at the Golf Club of Houston by three strokes, topping Johnson Wagner’s 132 in 2008. Strange and Wagner went on to win those respective tournaments, while McCallister settled for a third-place finish.

Kang’s 9-under on Friday matched the 18-hole tournament course record and helped him take the largest 36-hole lead in tournament history, topping the previous record by two strokes.

Hudson Swafford and Russell Henley were at 10-under after both shooting 5-under 67.

Rickie Fowler, the leader after one round, slipped to fourth at 9-under after he followed Thursday’s 8-under 64 with a 71.

Kang found an edge with red-hot putting. He sank six puts of at least 20 feet – a tournament course record since the stat began being recorded in 1983. It was a dramatic turn of events for a golfer who entered the week ranked No. 156 in putting and switched to a new putter earlier this week.

Kang said someone has been urging him to use a certain putter for months, even saying, “If you want to succeed, you use that.” He gave it a spin for the first time on Monday and hasn’t looked back.

“I putted pretty good (Thursday), but putted really good today,” Kang said. “The putter just kept making the putts and happened and happened and happened. It was a fun day.”

Kang used the word “rare” to describe the putting clinic he put on. He said he told his caddie that he wanted to play 10 more holes after he was finished on Friday, not wanting to let his momentum rest. He is among the 115 players who need a victory to qualify for Augusta National, as Jim Herman did by winning in Houston last year. Among the 144 players in the Houston Open field, 29 already have invitations to play.

Kang insisted that playing in the Masters hasn’t crossed his mind.

“It’s not in my head,” Kang said. “Whatever happens, happens.”

Zac Blair and Aaron Baddeley trail Kang by eight strokes at 8-under 136 through two rounds.

The field boasted five of the world’s top 12-ranked golfers, but only one of them – Fowler – made the cut to continue playing on Saturday. No. 5 Henrik Stenson shot a 5-over, No. 6 Jordan Spieth finished 2-over, No. 7 Adam Scott had a 1-over and Patrick Reed shot a 2-over to add two extra days to their Masters preparations.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. and Mackenzie Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., both made the cut. Taylor shot a 71 and is 4 under while Hughes shot a 70 and is 2 under.

Phil Mickelson rallied late to shoot par for a second straight day to make the cut, something he said was important to him ahead of Augusta.

“I fought hard in the end to get to the weekend because I felt, to get sharp for next week, I need to play a better round,” Mickelson said. “I didn’t want to have five days without competitive rounds before we tee off. I also think the course provides a great opportunity to get ready for next week.”

After mid-week rains dampened the course Thursday, warm, sunny weather and a light breeze caused little problems on the fairways on Friday.

Tiger Woods won’t play in the Masters for the third time in the last four years because he says he is not tournament ready.

Woods announced Friday night on his website that he did everything possible to try to play. He says his back rehabilitation simply didn’t allow him enough time.

He said there was no timetable for his return.

Woods withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic in early February after shooting a 77, claiming back spasms. Since then, he has sat out his own tournament at Riviera, the Honda Classic and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He even withdrew from a press conference in Los Angeles.

This is the 20-year anniversary of Woods winning his first Masters by a record 12 shots. He last won the Masters in 2005.