Downright chilly, windy and wet — a perfect day for golf in Scotland but hardly what you’d expect in Charlotte, N.C., in May.
That’s what the players faced, especially the morning wave at the Wells Fargo Championship on Thursday.
There were plenty of surprises.
How about defending champion Rory McIlroy shooting 40 for his first nine holes? That’s what he did, playing the back nine first in the tougher morning conditions. The world’s No. 3 would rally on the front but end up with a 73 that left him eight shots off the lead.
Which brings us to the surprise leaders — Steve Wheatcroft and Andrew Loupe. They are both looking for their first PGA Tour win.
Rickie Fowler starting well was no surprise, but he fell apart over his second nine and went from three-under through seven to shooting 71.
Jim Furyk’s 73 was not surprising. He’s back after a long layoff following wrist surgery.
The best round of the day might not have been the 65s by the leaders but the 66 by Anirban Lahiri. His no-bogey, six-under effort came in those morning conditions. “Cold, windy, wet,” is how he described it. “I’ve been playing well, but haven’t been consistent,” he said.
Consistency was tough for anyone to find at the wet Quail Hollow layout, which was expected to take more rain Thursday night.
Phil Mickelson got himself in the running with a three-under par 69, a shot better than Justin Rose (70) and four ahead of Adam Scott who struggled and wound up with 73, like McIlroy.
Conditions were expected to improve for Friday’s round but the field will still have to contend with some windy conditions.
