World number three Jordan Spieth was surprised to face questions about a possible rules violation after a second round of 67 in the US PGA Championship. Day 2 of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club on Friday.
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Day came into the week “under the weather” and only had one practice round after spending Tuesday evening in hospital after his wife Ellie suffered an allergic reaction. He needed a par to make that birdie matter, only to botch the ending.
It was the strangest of days for the PGA Championship at Baltusrol. But he took advantage of rain-soaked greens to make eight birdies, including a 25-footer on his final hole, the ninth. Day and Emiliano Grillo, who had a 67, are 2 shots back.
Spieth, who began his round on the back nine, opened with a six-foot birdie putt at 10 and a four-foot birdie putt at 11 after finding a fairway bunker.
Helped by two late birdies Thursday, Spieth gained on that momentum with five birdies on his inward nine Friday.
Despite the fact that he has only one Tour win to his name (the McGladrey Classic in 2014) and no top-10s to speak of this season, Streb rocketed up the leaderboard to share the lead with Jimmy Walker at nine under par by carding the 30th 63 in a major championship. “I was waiting on it to break, waiting on it to break, and it finally turned at the end”. But it was a great round. “Happy to be a part of that 63 club I guess”.
British Open champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden was alone in fifth after his second consecutive 67 with two-time major victor Martin Kaymer of Germany sharing sixth on 135 with Americans Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka.
A relaxed Henrik Stenson joked that another closing 63 “would work pretty well” after enhancing his bid for a second successive major title on Friday.
Phil Mickelson made the cut at one over despite beginning his second-round with a shocking seven, but two-time US PGA champion Rory McIlroy joined the likes of Sergio Garcia, Matt Kuchar and U.S. Open victor Dustin Johnson in bowing out.
All was well with a 3-wood from almost 260 yards, into a slight breeze, on the par-5 18th that set up his eagle. “I think it’s all course condition”, said Walker, who followed his 65 Thursday with a 66.
Not everyone had such a good day, though.
“It is so, so, inspiring, and I really look forward to go, experience that, and I don’t know how I will feel”, Kaymer said. His opening tee shot actually left the course, hitting Shunpike Road and bouncing into a driveway across the street.
Former world number one and two-time major victor Spieth had five birdies in his opening nine holes to get to four under par but missed several opportunities to better his score on his back nine, while a bogey saw him close on three under.
Golf is hard, but golf can also be unexpectedly spectacular.
The Australian’s round actually didn’t start out well.
Three birdies in the final four holes saw the German complete a 69 to sit one behind his fellow European at five under.
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“It was a bit of a mess there”, Day said.
