It would take two hybrids to reach the green on the 18th and then a two putt from 34 feet would give the left-hander a birdie and his 23rd appearance on the weekend in the PGA Championship after shooting an even-par 70.
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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.
Day was also just two shots off the lead at the half-way point in 2015 at Whistling Straits where he famously surged ahead on the weekend to a record 20-under par and maiden major win.
All Stenson cared about was being in the mix. “Driver went a little astray, but overall, I feel like I’m in a good position to make a run. You’re not winning anything on a Thursday and a Friday, but you can put yourself in the wrong direction early days”. There was the surprise leader in Jimmy Walker who posted a 5-under 65 in the morning and the shocking round of 77 from U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and the rather surprising 74 from Rory McIlroy. Phil Mickelson began his round by slicing his drive onto the Shunpike and into someone’s shrubbery. The group was the first of the day to tee off at the 10th, and all subsequent groupings were informed of the change. Wherever it stopped didn’t matter – it was still out-of-bounds. A triple bogey to start followed by 3-under golf the rest of the way to ride the Phillercoaster all the way back to 1 over and a spot in the final two rounds.
The biggest fight with Stenson was coping with an awkward start.
Playing a provisional on the 478-yard hole, Mickelson messed up once more, the ball landing far from the fairway, nestling near a path. Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia were ready to go when they had to wait 45 minutes. 12-13 – his third and fourth holes, respectively.
He added: “I know my game is there because I keep giving myself chances”.
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 was able to fight back and be patient from there on out, start to make a birdie here or there”, he said.
The five-time major victor set about steadying himself, writing the triple bogey on the scorecard and leaving it behind.
Stenson picked up three more birdies on the front nine and felt as if he could have made more. “I’m having a hard time managing my expectations, because I know how well I’m playing and I’m so result-oriented that I’m not playing very relaxed golf”. But I’ll still take two weeks off from tournaments, and I need to do something. So I just need to be a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more free flowing with my stroke.
Defending champion Jason Day had eight birdies in a 65 to get to seven under. He did well to save par from the trees on No. 3, though he couldn’t escape with par on No. 7 when he drove just right of a tree and onto a cart path.
John Senden shot an even-par-70 to stay at two under where he is joined by Scott Hend (70) in a tie for 22nd.
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This article was written by Doug Ferguson from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.
