Chesson Hadley's star continues to rise at Phoenix Open

Alec Brzezinski

Chesson Hadley's star continues to rise at Phoenix Open image

Chesson Hadley may not be a household name on the PGA Tour, but that's subject to change at the rate he's going.

After spending last season on the Web.com Tour, where he twice won, Hadley is back on the PGA Tour this season with a vengeance. With three top-4 finishes already to his name this season, Hadley continued his strong form with a 3-under 68 Friday at the Phoenix Open to get to 8 under.

Hadley was ranked 456th in the world last summer, but after a run of high finishes he's now ranked 79th. He's just glad to be back in form.

"You just kind of have to figure out how to play again," Hadley said after his second round. "I lost a little bit of that — I might have been — I was probably playing golf swing versus playing golf a little bit, thinking out there, thinking about my swing and trying to do too much and just taking it too seriously and I wasn't grinding and being patient and stuff like that.

"That's the stuff you got to do out here, especially on Tour if you're going to make cuts and be successful and play well. Honestly, just kind of figuring out how to play the game again."

Phoenix Open graphic

Hadley birdied three of his last six holes Friday to finish his day one shot behind leader Daniel Berger with the second round still in progress.

"If you drive the ball well out here you can shoot a really good number," Hadley said of TPC Sawgrass. "If you're hitting in the rough and kind of missing your spots a little bit, you always have to stay patient, maybe not more so on this golf course, but you do have to stay patient.

"You have to keep your wits about you on the greens, you can get in some trouble. So, yes, maybe stay patient around the greens and just work on your short game and get the balls up-and-down when you should. Looking forward to the weekend."
 

Alec Brzezinski