John Bazemore/Associated Press
Winged Foot Golf Club modified into built as much as be a difficult course for four rounds of the 2020 US Birth.
On Thursday, the end gamers in the discipline proved that rotten, as 21 golfers completed in red numbers.
Justin Thomas turned in the very finest scorecard of the round with a five-under 65 that modified into the very finest rating at Winged Foot in its historical past as a US Birth host.
Patrick Reed, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele are among the high-profile gamers within just a few photographs of Thomas after 18 holes.
If the course becomes more difficult in the next three rounds, Thursday’s low rankings may possibly per chance be much extra most principal since they give Thomas, Reed and others a cushion to work with over golfers that struggled all the intention thru the principle round.
Considerable Friday Tee Cases
7: 45 a.m. ET: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Daniel Berger, Branden Grace
7: 45 a.m. ET (10th gap): Gary Woodland, Andy Ogletree, Shane Lowry
7: 56 a.m. ET (10th gap): Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau
8: 07 a.m. ET (10th gap): Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Paul Casey
12: 54 p.m. ET (10th gap): Harris English, Brendon Todd, Davis Thompson
1: 16 p.m. ET: Webb Simpson, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day
1: 16 p.m. ET (10th gap): Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth
1: 27 p.m. ET: Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Adam Scott
1: 27 p.m. ET (10th gap): Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods
Plump record of tee times will even be found on PGATour.com.
Predictions
Leaders Rewarded For Consistency
John Minchillo/Associated Press
Previous to the tournament started, high rankings were anticipated over four rounds thanks to Winged Foot’s US Birth historical past. Two of the final three US Birth winners in Mamaroneck, Fresh York completed successfully over par.
Rory McIlroy, who’s two photographs support of Thomas, spoke back with a comparability of 1 other tricky course, Oakmont Nation Club, to give an instance of low rankings being doable at Winged Foot, per ESPN.com’s Reduce Pietruszkiewicz.
“It’s exhausting, clearly, but I judge it be very, very sparkling,” McIlroy acknowledged. “After I carried out Oakmont for the principle time, my initial reaction modified into, this plight is inconceivable. This course doesn’t feel fairly as … it affords you fairly extra chance.”
If the course becomes more difficult Friday, the gamers on the end of the leaderboard can hold the income of their first round consistency to reside in the contending positions.
Thomas, McIlroy and Reed blended for one bogey and a double bogey out of the morning threesomes.
Thomas Pieters adopted a same path to card the very finest total from the afternoon session. He had five birdies and one bogey on his manner to a four-under 66.
The gamers after all five may possibly per chance now not need an abundance of birdies to reside in entrance Friday. The chief may possibly per chance terminate with an unscathed scorecard attributable to a lot of pars.
Having fun with a unbiased correct-par 70 round must be the expectation for Thomas, Reed and McIlroy particularly Friday afternoon attributable to the 2d wave of golfers produced higher rankings Thursday.
If that occurs, the gamers currently after all 10 may possibly per chance be extra aggressive Saturday and Sunday as they discover about to invent separation for the purchase.
Jordan Spieth Continues To Fight
John Minchillo/Associated Press
One in every of the unhappy constants of the old couple of necessary tournaments has been the struggles of Jordan Spieth.
On Thursday, Spieth started his round with a bogey at No. 1 and a double bogey at No. 2. He adopted a same model on the support nine with a dropped shot at No. 10 and a double on the 12th gap.
His comments after the principle round may possibly per chance clean no longer manufacture anyone mediate he will manufacture most principal round-by-round enchancment.
“There’s a lot that’s off. I’m no longer in actual fact obvious. If I knew, I may possibly per chance repair it. So I’m extra or much less factual – extra or much less working thru it and having a discover about ahead to having fairly extra break day to figure it out. I mean, yeah, I’m late late it. The 2d I try and procure support out in entrance of, it be hooking,” Spieth acknowledged, per PGATour.com’s Cameron Morfit.
The three-time necessary winner missed the lower on the 2018 US Birth and completed in a tie for 65th a 300 and sixty five days ago.
On the PGA Championship in August, Spieth made the lower late a 2d-round 68, but he failed to prepare up on that by finishing in a tie for 71st.
If Winged Foot performs as a more difficult course Friday, Spieth may possibly per chance be in for a lengthy afternoon whereas his taking half in accomplice Reed chases the lead.
Be conscious Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
Statistics obtained from PGATour.com.
