Nice to see Rory awaken from his slumber today and throw up a challenge to Jason heading into the weekend. Not sure what went on yesterday, he said that his round today didn't feel all that dissimilar to his round yesterday... but the score sure as hell indicates otherwise.
And Day continues to show up in the big events, setting the bar for everyone else to chase. There hasn't been a more dominant golfer the past two seasons, every aspect of his game seems to be up to the challenge, no letup in sight. You put him on a short course, light rough, perfect greens, brimming with confidence... hard to picture him not having another major on his trophy mantle this year.
It's likewise hard to believe that Mickelson has led the tour in scoring average much of this season, at least based on his play the past month or so. Phil had it to 5-under early on today, well within the cutline and really not out of it whatsoever. Then came the horrendous 3-hole stretch on holes 6 thru 8 where he plays them +4... then throws a couple more careless bogeys in for good measure on the back, and suddenly he finds himself having to birdie either 17 or 18 just to get in for the weekend. It's not uncommon to see the top players bounce back with birdies after a bad hole, but Phil is just the opposite... makes birdie, then throws it away within the next 15 minutes of play. Some of the mistakes he's made the past few tournaments have just been downright horrible, more befitting a weekend club player.
And Jordan... not sure anyone caught the conversation he had early on today, where he came up short with wedge on one of the shorter par4's. No sooner than he hit the ball, "that's not enough club, dude. Not even close to the right club. What are we doing here?" The player-caddie honeymoon is officially over, at least judging by the reaction today.
Spieth is a good kid, he'll put the Masters debacle behind him soon enough and find his stride again. But it's interesting to see just how obsessive-compulsive his behavior has gotten over the past few months, when things suddenly don't go his way. He has this nervousness about him that almost begs for the uncertainty that awaits.
Best highlight of the day to Will Wilcox with the epic reaction to the hole-in-one on the 17th. He joked in the interview afterward that he's already getting some grief over his home-made golf swing on social media, and delivered the best response of the day to summarize. "Don't like it - watch another sport or something." Boom. I like it.
