The weathermen got it (kinda) right Friday as winds did blow into Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando on Day 2 of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, just not as bad as originally projected.
They were enough, however, to push Jon Rahm, the 18-hole leader, off course as the Spaniard shot a second-round 4-over 76.
Let the man himself tell you just how tough it was out there: “It’s f****ing hard.”
He’s 3 under and six back heading into the weekend.
The wind was no problem for Kurt Kitayama, however. He followed up his Thursday 67 with an impressive 4-under 68 with his lone bogey coming at the easiest hole on the golf course, the par-5 16th.
He closed out his day with a dart from 156 yards on the par-4 18th and a finishing circle.
“It’s always a fun challenge keeping yourself in the moment,” he said after his round. “I feel like when you get conditions like this it’s easy to kind of let things get away from you. For me it’s just keeping myself focused the entire way. There’s no, you can’t let up at all mentally.”
This is Kitayama’s third 36-hole lead this season. He’s yet to convert.
If you missed any of the action Friday, no worries, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know from the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Note: Play was suspended Friday with two players left on the golf course. The cut line currently sits at 2 over.
Play was suspended due to darkness at 6:47 p.m. with two players left on No. 9: Justin Suh (-2) and Greg Koch (+2).
If Koch makes birdie, the cut will move to 1-over (as long as Suh stays at 1-over or better). Otherwise, it will be 2-over.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 3, 2023
API: Leaderboard
Justin Thomas put on a clinic — until two straight bogeys to close
When the wind picks up, it’s safe to assume Justin Thomas will make a move up the leaderboard.
That’s exactly what he did Friday at Bay Hill.
In tough-ish afternoon conditions, Thomas went deep with a 5-under 67 to get within four shots of the lead.
He opened with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1 and 2 then did it again on 4 and 5. A bogey at the par-4 8th sent him out with a 3-under 33. He got the dropped shot right back at the par-4 10th with a birdie then made three more coming home. Two bogeys to close out his day derailed the round a bit, but 5 under was one of the best efforts of the day — Corey Conners bested him by one.
He’s four back heading into the weekend.
In Thomas’ one and only other appearance at the API, he finished 49th.
Jordan Spieth's putter came alive late
Spieth shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday while ranking 72nd in SG: Putting. His flat stick woke up a bit late Friday afternoon.
A huge 25-foot par save on the 15th and a 27-footer from the fringe on 17 propelled the Texan to a second-round 3-under 69.
Although the putter was solid, the highlight of his round may have come on the 18th.
After duck-hooking his drive next to the out-of-bounds fence, Spieth took a left-handed stance with his feet on the cart path. He was allowed to take a drop and went on to nearly make par — not all that bad when at one point he was starring double or triple bogey in the face.
Jordan Spieth finishes with a bogey on 18.
He’s still two back of the lead and T2 @APInv. pic.twitter.com/xtiNIq8Qqf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 3, 2023
Spieth is 7 under after two rounds, two back of Kitayama.
Catching up with some big names
Rory McIlroy: McIlroy bounced back nicely after an opening-round 73 with a 3-under 69 in windy conditions. He missed some opportunities early in his round but made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 (his seventh and eighth of the day) and took care of both par 5s on the front (his back nine). The 2018 champ is back in the mix.
Xander Schauffele: Schauffele made his way up the leaderboard thanks to a solid 2-under 70. He’s 6 under after two rounds and tied for third.
Scottie Scheffler: The defending champion is exactly where he was after round one, 4 under. An even-par 72 on Friday wasn’t what he was looking for, but he’s still in position to repeat this weekend.
Others: Patrick Cantlay and Matt Fitzpatrick both sit 5 under, T-6, while Rickie Fowler is hanging tough at T-13.
Shot of the day
For the second day in a row, Viktor Hovland earns this honor — ace!
🚨 ACE ALERT 🚨
Viktor Hovland cards the fourth ace of his career @APInv 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Oa2Fr1eIyH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 3, 2023
Saturday's weather forecast
According to Windy.com, winds are forecasted to reach the high teens Saturday afternoon with gusts up to 30 MPH. The temperature could be as high as 90 degrees.
