A late swing adjustment has helped Robert Allenby fire back into contention in the US PGA Tour event in California.
Allenby muscled his way into the mix at the halfway point of the tournament at Torrey Pines with a five-under-par 67, leaving him tied seventh just five shots off the lead at nine-under. He trails American Kyle Stanley (68) who leads outright at 14-under-par.
Brandt Snedeker (64) is second at 13-under while South Korean Sang-Moon Bae (67) and American Martin Flores (67) share third place a shot further back at 12-under.
The Victorian’s results in the US haven’t been up to their usual high standards having not posted a top-10 finish since early July 2011 at the AT & T National.
His renowned ball striking has lacked its usual lustre and, after missing the cut in Hawaii a few weeks ago, change didn’t appear forthcoming. But after another scratchy nine holes of sprayed shots during his pro-am on Wednesday, the 40-year-old claimed he finally figured it out.
“I haven’t been hitting the ball like I want to hit the ball for several months,” Allenby admitted. “Even in Australia at Coolum, where I was second, I still didn’t hit the ball great. I just putted good.
“But I changed something in my swing after nine holes of the pro-am on Wednesday and it’s definitely working now.”
The problem for the 22-time winner around the world was arresting lateral movement.
“I was moving too much laterally instead of rotating the hips through and, once I made the small adjustment, I am back on a better plane and have more power and control.
“I have hit a few wayward tee shots (hit just five of 14 fairways in round two) but that is only because I am still trying to fully trust it.
“It feels like the way I was hitting it two years ago when I was playing great and I am also putting better which helps.”
Despite now being in striking distance of a fifth victory on US soil, and the first in more than 10 years, Allenby says he won’t be focused on the trophy.
“Obviously, I want to win tournaments but my main goal this week is to find my game and just get it consistent for the week and then continue it into the year,” he said.
“I don’t care where I finish. I just need to get my game to where it needs to be.
“I won’t even worry about the leaderboard.”
Greg Chalmers was the next best of the Australians at seven-under-par in a tie for 12th. Rod Pampling (-5), Nick O’Hern (-5), Mark Leishman (-3), Geoff Ogilvy (-2), Aaron Baddeley (-2) and Jarrod Lyle (-2) all made the 36-hole cut but will have work to do if they are to threaten.
Nathan Green (-1), Gavin Coles (-1), Steven Bowditch (Even), Mathew Goggin (Even), Stuart Appleby (+5) and Matthew Giles (+5) all failed to make the weekend. Kiwi Danny Lee also bombed out on day two, shooting a six-over 76 to fall to one-over-par.