The Loop
Blake Adams eyes first career Tour win after going low on Friday
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Blake Adams birdied five of the last seven holes on Friday at TPC River Highlands. Photo by: Jim Rogash/Getty Images
CROMWELL, Conn. -- Blake Adams fell all the way to even par -- below the projected cut line -- with a fifth-hole bogey before reeling off seven birdies, including six over the last ten holes, to close his round with a 6-under 64. Currently in the clubhouse at seven-under, tied for fourth place with play suspended, two-strokes behind defending champion Frederik Jacobson, Adams is putting together a quality year. And now the 36-year-old is entering the weekend with a chance at his first PGA Tour victory.
Coming off a top-30 finish at the U.S. Open, Adams started the day at a pedestrian one under and birdied the second hole before bogeys at the third and fifth dropped him back to one over for the day. Chasing a leader who was nine under through the same amount of holes, Adams is happy to be sitting this high on the leader board after the slow start.
"I've been playing really well, just not seeing the results through the first, probably 27 holes here. . . . Made some silly bogeys here and there and finally cut those out and made a nice little run."
That 'nice little run' included birdies on 12, 13, 15, 16, and a tap in on the finishing hole. "Foot putt for birdie is always a nice way to end your day," Adams joked. "Hopefully I'll just take it through the next two days."
Adams finished in the top ten at the 2011 Travelers, and will be the first person to tell you that you can't leave strokes out on the course at TPC River Highlands and expect to compete. "The greens are absolutely perfect. Great make speed. It's a laid-back atmosphere, kind of like I am. [You have to] go and just make birdies. That's all you do around here, and I was fortunate to do that today"
So is this the week Blake Adams finally wins on the PGA Tour?
"I hope so." Adams admitted, "I've been playing well. I've been working hard. I'm finally seeing some good numbers, but it's a long, long tournament. I've only played 36 holes, and we got two more days to see what happens."
-- Derek Evers