You could feel Jordan Spieth was ready to make a move, there wasn’t the same feeling with Rory McIlroy.
Spieth bolted up the leaderboard Friday at the PGA Championship with a crowd-pleasing 67 that got him to six-under par and within a shot of early clubhouse leader David Lingmerth. Spieth was one-under for his first seven holes, playing the back nine first, then gave himself the boost he was looking for when he chipped in for birdie at the difficult 18th.
“I was in a tough spot, it gave me confidence going to the front nine and I made some putts,” Spieth said after shooting his five-under round that saw him play those final nine holes three-under. “I feel confident things are tending upward,” Spieth said looking forward to the final 36.
Rory McIlroy, playing alongside Spieth the first two days, couldn’t find much of a spark and settled for a second straight round of 71. A double-bogey at the 18th set him back. “I felt like from tee to green I hit the ball pretty well,” said the world’s No. 1 player. “If anything, I’d say my short game is not as sharp as I’d like it to be. Hopefully there’s a lower score in me.”
Both Spieth and McIlroy enjoyed easier conditions in the morning, much easier than the blustery winds they encountered Thursday afternoon.
