Brian Harman Leads the Texas Open, With Key Competitors Close Behind
After 36 holes at TPC San Antonio, Brian Harman commands a four-stroke lead in the Texas Open, putting him in prime position as he seeks victory.
Brian Harman carved a decisive path on Friday at TPC San Antonio with a second consecutive round of 6-under 66, placing him four strokes ahead of Keith Mitchell at the midpoint of the 2025 Texas Open. Harman’s total of 12-under matches the record for the lowest score after 36 holes, a mark previously held by Si Woo Kim.
“It’s been pretty good, controlling my distances nicely,” Harman remarked. “One of the demands here is that you really need to control the ball. The greens are firmer than they appear, and if you’re in a bad spot, it’s quite challenging.”
Starting his day with one under through seven holes, Harman turned up the heat just before heading to the back nine. By capitalizing on the easier par-4 17th and par-5 18th, he built on his incredible momentum. Additional birdies followed on holes 5 and 7, allowing him to maintain a formidable lead.
At one point, he led by six strokes, a position that seemed too comfortable to ignore. A slight misstep on his final hole may overshadow his evening meal, but Harman remains firmly out in front.
“It has been a slow start, a little uncharacteristic,” he reflected on his season. “I’ve been pretty frustrated; I haven’t been able to grasp the exact issues holding me back. It’s great to take some time off and come back with a couple good days so far.”
While Harman cruised, Jordan Spieth struggled to gain momentum, posting a 1-over 73 and stumbling through his later holes. He originally raced to six under early in the tournament but lost ground with a double bogey.
Similar difficulties plagued notable players like Matt Fitzpatrick and reigning champion Akshay Bhatia, both disappointing exits at this competitive event.
The Leader
- Brian Harman (-12): The defending champion demonstrated his prowess each day leading into the weekend.
Other Contenders
- Keith Mitchell (-8) T3. Sam Ryder, Matt Wallace, Ryo Hisatsune (-7) T6. Patrick Cantlay, J.T. Poston, Daniel Berger, Carson Young, Emiliano Grillo, Andrew Novak, Steven Fisk (-6) T11. Harry Hall, Ben James, Henrik Norlander, Denny McCarthy, Zach Johnson, Harry Higgs, John Pak, Quade Cummins (-5)
Note: Missing cuts and early exits continue to surprise fans as some top-ranked players fail to secure their positions as the tournament progresses.
