SAN ANTONIO – Brian Herman found range on an iron shot at 6 under 66 on Friday, not outside 12 feet at 6 under 66, giving Keith Mitchell a four-shot lead at the Valero Texas Open.
Herman has taken his first 36 holes lead since Bay Hill a year ago, the biggest lead he has had in points along the way since five people led at Hoylake when he won the Open Championship in 2023.
“Know what I’ve done before and that it’s possible,” Herman said of his experience with the big lead. “You get a big lead at times – and I’m sure Keith is going to put in some birdies.
Herman was at 12 under 132 at TPC San Antonio.
LudvigÅberg, No. 5, the highest ranked player on the field and defending champion Akshay Bhatia was among them to miss the cut.
Mitchell, who needs a victory to enter the Masters next week, spent the up and down days added to the even par 72. He drilled a par 3-foot putt to puncture a par 3-foot putt, snatched a bogey from the par 3-hole bunker, and closed it with two pars.
“I’m still there,” Mitchell said. “I wish I was closer to Brian than I did, but I’m happy to be able to make a par at 9 so I can stay in the final group. …Thankfully, I played great yesterday and have two rounds.”
Ryo Histune and Matt Wallace each shot 67, but Sam Ryder came across a 74-11 shot more than his opening round to take the lead, feeling pain in his neck.
Rider only consumed 21 putts in his opening round when he tried not to do much with a neck injury that caused him to miss out on Pro Am. The second round caught up with him, especially finishing late Thursday, and then spent early tee time.
“I could sit here and make excuses, but I didn’t play well,” Rider said. “It’s definitely my neck – my back is bothering me a bit – but it’s just hard on a fast turnaround.
“Overall, if you told me I was going to go to this position I’d go on Saturday, I would have taken it on Thursday.”
Jordan Spieth was trying to stay in leadership range until he was fooled by some slow chips that led to a bogey in the final three holes. He got caught up in 73 and found himself behind eight shots in his final start before the Masters.
Ricky Fowler kept his Masters hope alive – he needs to win to get in – at 65 he was also eight shots. His immediate goal after opening at 75 was to cut it.
That was Tony Finau’s goal, and he pulled it apart in an epic way. Finau had one shot under the cut line when he made a hole-in-one on hole 16. He then finished with two simple pars and posted a 72, creating with one shot with plenty of room.
“I needed something to go my way,” Finau said. “I was leaking oil and I was really on the way to the chance to play the weekend, so it was a big shot at the right moment.”