On Friday’s front nine, the Charles Schwab Challenge’s 36-hole leader could feel his heart beating. His eyes were deceiving him.
Harry Hall had never experienced anything like the stress and pressure that comes with taking his maiden PGA TOUR lead. And of everyone on the field, he had the longest wait. The 25-year-old English TOUR rookie, who played in the final group of the day, continued to rule Colonial Country Club, shooting a 4-under 66 to finish the first two rounds at 12-under par.
By the time the weekend was up, Hall had a three-point lead against Harris English. The two-time Korn Ferry Tour champion expressed his desire to use the knowledge gained from the 2020 Wichita Open and the 2022 NV5 Invitational to accomplish something he hasn’t yet accomplished: triumph on the largest platform.
“You will always have to control your nerves. They never leave. You have to recognize that tomorrow there will likely be new problems and that all the tiny tools I’ve developed over the past few years of playing professional golf will likely be elevated” he said.
He will undoubtedly accept the work he did during the two days at Colonial. In terms of strokes gained while putting (6.86) and around the green (2.87), Hall is ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the field. In scrambling, he is 11 of 13. With a score of 5.83, he is sixth in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green.
He played a round of 62 on Thursday and recorded eight birdies. During his round on Friday, he made four consecutive shots.
“I just tried to stay in the present while shooting, and I did a great job doing that. I was content with my level-headedness, patience, and acceptance,” said Hall, a former collegiate golfer for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
On his last three holes on Friday, fate and luck put those skills to the test.
Hall’s tee shot landed on a twig on the 7th par-4, which counted as the 16th hole of his round. He was afraid to move it.
“You don’t want to take that chance,” he said.
From 157 yards away, Hall swung a 9-iron, halted the ball 11 feet from the pin, and made the putt for a birdie.
“I only noticed two dimples,” he said.
The ball rolled to his feet after being knocked loose by his initial swipe. On the final rotation, he made another putt for par.
He then blocked a fairway metal shot on the renowned par-4 ninth that appeared destined for a line of tall trees and the rich rough beneath them. His ball collided directly with one.
It was located by Hall in the middle of the fairway.
“It wouldn’t have mattered, in my opinion. The day probably would have made me extremely happy, and fortunately, it turned out well,” he said with a playful smile.
Hall pays homage to Jim Barnes “Long Jim”, the legendary English professional who was born in the Cornish hamlet of Lelant, by donning a dapper flat cap while on tour.
After relocating to the United States, “Long Jim” won the PGA Championship twice (1916, 1919), the U.S. Open once (1921), and the Open Championship once (1925). Prior to attending college, Hall played at the West Cornwall Golf Club in England, where Barnes also played.
“That’s sort of why I wear it,” Hall remarked on Friday, referring to his khaki cap with a sponsor logo.
