Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth shine on star-studded leaderboard

World No 1 hits second-round 63 at Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas
Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 11th hole in the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. Picture: David J. Phillip/APRory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 11th hole in the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. Picture: David J. Phillip/AP
Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 11th hole in the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. Picture: David J. Phillip/AP

The fans are already missing out. In the first of five planned PGA Tour events behind closed doors, a mouth-watering leaderboard is taking shape in the Charles Schwab Challege in Texas. It includes world No 1 Rory McIlroy, fourth-ranked Justin Thomas, bulked up Bryson DeChambeau, a rejuvenated Jordan Spieth and Harold Varner III, golf’s new voice on racism.

McIlroy, who is making his debut in the event, described his opening 68 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth as “uneventful” after signing off with nine straight pars. His second-round 63 was more like what we’ve come to expect from the Northern Irishman.

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It was illuminated by an eagle at the first - his tenth - and also included six birdies. His sole dropped shot of the day came at his last hole, where he converted a 15-footer for a 5 after having to lay up from the right rough.

The effort moved McIlroy to nine-under-par, two off the lead, held by Varner. Before the circuit’s three-month Covid-19 lockdown, McIlroy had recorded four top-five finishes in his starts this year on the PGA Tour. More of the same over the weekend and he’ll be taking up where he left off.

“From watching from afar, this is a golf course that’s always let the best players rise to the top,” said the four-time major winner. “You have to be in complete control of your game, hit fairways, hit greens, convert some putts. The leaderboard is a who’s-who of golf right now. I’m just happy to be in the mix.

“I learned a lot about my game yesterday. You can do as much practice as you want and play as much as you want at home, but until you actually get into that competitive environment, you’re never 100 per cent sure of how your game is.

I’ve been playing well at home and I’ve been hitting the ball the way I’ve wanted to, just a matter of getting it to translate out on to tournament play, and it’s nice that it has. The rental home we’re staying in this week has a simulator in the basement. I actually hit a few balls in there last night, and that helped.”

McIlroy admitted he is finding it strange playing with no fans. “When that first birdie putt went in and I didn’t get a clap, my hand was trying to go up to wave to someone in the gallery, but there’s obviously no one there,” he added. “I think this tournament deserves to be fans considering the field that’s been assembled, but hopefully we can get back to playing in front of some big crowds soon.”

Spieth, the 2016 winner and also a two-time runner-up, is backing up his pre-event bullishness. The Texan had slipped outside the world’s top 50 before the enforced break, but clearly used it to good effect.

Home in 30 in the first round for a 65, the 2017 Open champion was out in 31 on day two. He was two shots clear of the field after then starting for home with two birdies. His momentum was halted by dropping three shots in two holes, but it was the Spieth of old as he bounced back with a brace of birdies for another 65 and a share of second spot with DeChambeau.

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“I played a really, really solid round of golf with a kind of 20-minute hiccup for a couple holes,” said Spieth. “Eight birdies around this place, it’s nothing to complain about. I’m obviously very pleased with the position I’m in after two rounds.”

Tied for the overnight lead with Justin Rose, Varner started his second circuit with a triple-bogey 7 at the tenth. His fightback was impressive, carding eight birdies thereafter, including four in a row from the fourth on his back nine. “Obviously not the start I wanted, but it’s just a part of golf,” said the 29-year-old American after backing up his first-day 63 with a 66. “Even after a triple, you just can’t live in the past.”

Following the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis last month, Varner wrote a two-page statement that he shared via social media. On the back of that, he had a 20-minute video chat with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan about racial injustices, describing his own experiences as a black golfer growing up in North Carolina. “It’s a great opportunity going into the weekend,” said Varner of his position on the leaderboard.

DeChambeau posted a bogey-free 65 late in the day to sit alongside Spieth, a shot ahead of McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa, with Rose (69) and Thomas in a group on eight-under.

“I think the leaderboard speaks for itself,” said Thomas, the 2017 US PGA champion, after adding a 68 to his opening 64. “Some of the top players in the world, so I think that that’s a testimony to a good course and a good set up. Hopefully we’ll give them some fireworks this weekend to watch at home.”

Playing in the same group as McIlroy, world No 3 Brooks Koepka carded a second consecutive 68 for a four-under total, but second-ranked Jon Rahm, the third member, missed the cut on level par.

Defending champion Kevin Na also bowed out early, as did 61-year-old Tom Lehman after following his opening 65 with a 74. Others to miss the cut included Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry, Victor Perez and Russell Knox.

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