The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Spieth maintains lead at Travelers
Leads Merritt, Reed by a shot heading into final two rounds
CROMWELL » Jordan Spieth had opportunities to increase his one-shot lead from the opening round in the Travelers Championship, but wasted several of them on Friday.
That left the door open for other golfers, but none were able pass or even tie him. So Spieth remains the leader at the midway point of the tournament by one stroke over Patrick Reed and Troy Merritt.
“(Thursday) was really good. I felt awesome over the ball, struck the ball beautifully and putted well too,” Spieth said. “Today, by comparing it to the way I’ve struck the ball the last, you know, four or five months, it was an offday, but it was still pretty solid.”
Spieth followed up his opening round of 63 with a 1-under 69 to stand at 8-under 132 through two rounds. He will tee off the first hole at 1:05 p.m. alongside Reed and Merritt.
“It was just kind of an off-day, and I’m glad I was able to still shoot 1-under with an off-round, and we’ll just go back and recognize that we probably need to be close to doubling this score for the
rest of the tournament in order to win,” Spieth said.
Part of Friday’s drama was if the other two members of the Travelers “Big 3” would make the cut. Rory McIlroy, like Spieth playing the tournament for the first time, bogeyed the 18th hole when his foot slipped on his approach shot from 100 yards and came up well short of the green.
That dropped McIlroy to even par and after a long look at the leaderboard before hitting his third shot, knew where he stood.
“We have seen here in the past guys going out and shooting a low score and getting themselves back into the tournament,” McIlroy said. “But if that’s to happen, obviously, first I need to make the cut, and second I need to play a lot better than I did today.”
McIlroy did survive the cut on the number. Jason Day wasn’t as fortunate, missing by two shots (142). Joining him were former two-time champion Bubba Watson (142), Zach Johnson (144) and Justin Thomas (145).
Because 85 people made the cut, there will be a secondary cut after Saturday’s third round. The low 70 and ties will advance to the final round.
A warm, muggy morning gave way to an overcast, windy afternoon, making it harder for anyone playing late to make a run at Spieth. Only Reed, playing alongside Day, was able to stay within one in the afternoon, firing a 4-under 66, capped by a birdie on 18.
“I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball well all year,” Reed said. “I feel like I’ve been putting pretty solid. It’s just every once in awhile, there is something that’s not quite there that day, and the numbers aren’t adding up. Here recently, I feel like scores are starting to reflect how I’m playing and hopefully I can continue it all.”
Due to inclement weather expected overnight into Saturday morning, the third round will begin at 10:45 a.m., threesomes going off both tees to be able to finish around 6 p.m.
Graham DeLaet briefly held the lead outright at 9-under after birdieing 12. But like Spieth did earlier in the day, double-bogeyed the par-5 13th and fell one behind Spieth. He hit his tee shot in the water. Then he double-bogeyed 18 following four straight pars to fall into a nine-way tie for eighth place that includes Jim Furyk, who shot the PGA Tour record 58.
“A lot of those downwind holes you had front pin placements. You really had to use your head out there and be patient,” Furyk said. “You know, actually, I feel like the round I shot today (68) might have been a little better round than my 3-under yesterday.”
Wesley Bryan, who played with Spieth the first two rounds, Daniel Summerhays, Boo Weekley and Chase Seiffert are all tied for fourth place at 6-under 134.
Johnson Wagner and Madison native Brett Stegmaier, both of whom trailed Spieth by one after the opening round, both shot 72 and sit at 4-under 136, four behind Spieth now.
“I couldn’t get it close (for birdie), but I finished it off very well,” said Stegmaier. “(On Saturday), be aggressive when you can, safe when you got to be. I’m not hitting my driver really solid. My putting has been good, even though I misread a few today.”
If Spieth were to win, he would become the first golfer since Phil Blackmar in 1985 to win this tournament in his first attempt.
“Being able to be towards the front of the pack on a Saturday afternoon is a beautiful position to be in and one that we’ll certainly embrace. I’m going to try to have a lot of fun this weekend,” Spieth said.