The second round for Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño begins and ends with the putter. His game wasn't as refined as on Thursday from tee to green, but he managed to correct it enough to stay afloat until the 3-putts on the last leg put him on thin ice.
It was clear that the greens were going to be the tricky part on Friday. He started off strong with an incredible birdie on the 1st hole after sinking the putt from ten meters out, and a good putt from a meter and a half away on the second, back to back, to avoid a bogey. It was time to step up.
On hole 5, he fought off another bogey, more signature of the Spanish golfer, after hitting from bunker to bunker in the surrounding greens. On the 7th, another nice putt from almost five meters away came to the rescue for a well-deserved par. Gonzalo was walking on thin ice, and he paid for it on the 8th hole with a 3-putt from almost six meters away, resulting in a painful double bogey.
It was clear that it was time for a comeback. He was at +3, two less than the total, with the cut under control in theory. He landed par after par until he was confronted by another 3-putt on the 15th. The red flag went up, and he stepped up for an incredible birdie on the 16th (amazing putt from three meters away), but the alarm went off again with another 3-putt on the 17th.
He was one shot away from securing the cut for the weekend, with the tricky 18th still ahead. His second shot went straight to the water. Critical situation. After dropping the ball, he was forced to do a putt and approach to stay in the tournament. And he did it from sixty meters away, with an outstanding meter and a half long putt for bogey.
First goal accomplished. Gonzalo will participate in THE PLAYERS this weekend for the first time. Big words. Lots of room for improvement ahead. Every move matters in the next 36 holes. He plays today along with Ryan Palmer at 14:36, Spanish time.
