Keith Mitchell posted a 3-under-par 67 to hang onto a one-shot lead halfway through the Truist Championship on Friday in rainy Flourtown, Pa.
Mitchell jumped into the lead Thursday by firing a 61, but the scoring was more muted across the board for the second round of the $20 million signature event at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course.
A run of three birdies early in his round, including putts of 25 and 18 feet, helped Mitchell reach 12-under 128 through two days. He is narrowly ahead of Irishman Shane Lowry, who posted the round of the day with a 65 to get to 11 under.
Mitchell said he’s trying to get more comfortable playing from in front.
“Playing well the last couple Thursdays, it’s just I feel like I’ve been there now three or four times,” Mitchell said. “So trying to just build off of that and build into Friday, then Saturday and Sunday. It’s a four-round tournament. They don’t give any points or money out on Thursday, so I’ve got to keep it going.”
He did that Friday by neutralizing his mistakes. Mitchell made two bogeys and in both cases followed them with birdies on the next hole.
“Huge. If you get going in the wrong direction with momentum on a day like today, it can really catch you,” Mitchell said. “Hit two really good putts after I made bogeys.”
Lowry, meanwhile, had six birdies to just one bogey Friday. He ranked second in the field in strokes gained on approach and hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation.
Lowry was asked if the rainy conditions in Pennsylvania played to his strengths, given where he’s from.
“No. Everyone says that to me every day when it rains,” Lowry said. “I live in South Florida, and I plan to be there now. No, I think I’m able to handle them probably better than a few people, but I don’t particularly like or enjoy going out and playing in these conditions, but yeah, I handle them well.”
Sepp Straka of Austria (67) is third at 10 under par, and there’s a gap before a star-filled tie for fourth at 7 under with Justin Thomas (67), Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (67), Collin Morikawa (70), Patrick Cantlay (68), Akshay Bhatia (70) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (68).
McIlroy had a busy day with six birdies and three bogeys, while Morikawa overcame a double bogey to shoot an even-par round. McIlroy has won this tournament four times at Quail Hollow Club, which is hosting next week’s PGA Championship instead of the Truist.
“I felt like today was another sort of scrappy one,” McIlroy said. “I made what I feel are some uncharacteristic mistakes compared to how I’ve played the majority of the year.
“So just got to try to iron that out over the next couple of days, try to shoot a couple of scores without as many bogeys on the card. If I can do that and just tidy it up a little bit, I feel like I’ll be in a good spot heading into next week.”
All 72 players in the field will play the weekend, as there is no 36-hole cut. Will Zalatoris (75 Friday; 1 over for the tournament), Wyndham Clark (73; 2 over) and Englishman Justin Rose (77; 7 over) are among those struggling this week.
–Field Level Media
