Friday's Birdies and Bogeys
Birdie: Jordan Spieth
It seems Spieth is presented with a new challenge every week and yet he doesn't disappoint. Last year, he became the first teenager to win on the PGA Tour in 82 years and the youngest player to represent the U.S. in the Presidents Cup. Last month, he wasn't supposed to do well at his first Masters and he finished runner-up. And this week, his first tour of TPC Sawgrass as a pro was supposed to be bumpy. Nope. For a second straight day, Spieth didn't even card a bogey. He followed an opening 67 with a second-round 66 to put him one shot off Martin Kaymer's lead heading into the weekend.--Alex MyersTwitter: @AlexMyers3
Bogey: Kevin Chappell
It's hard to give a bogey to a man who shot 67 at TPC Sawgrass, but Kevin Chappell played his first eight holes in six under, and recovered from a bogey on 18 (his ninth) with two more birdies to get to seven under on the day. But after that, it started to slip. Alone in second at one point, Chappell made four bogeys on his final seven holes to slip outside the top 15.--Luke Kerr-DineenTwitter: @LukeKerrDineen
Birdie: Martin Kaymer
After a course-record tying 63 on Thursday, Martin Kaymer teed off early Friday and was nearly just as solid. He made just one bogey on each nine -- his first two of the tournament -- and five other birdies to finish with a three-under 69. After 36 holes, Kaymer has separated himself from all but a handful of players. If he keeps playing like this, it threatens to be a runaway come Sunday. --L.K.D.
Bogey: Hunter Mahan
Hunter Mahan played in the final group of three majors last year, is one of the best ball-strikers on tour and works with the same coach as Tiger Woods. He should shine at a tournament like the Players, but instead, Mahan shot 73-78, missing the cut and continuing an unimpressive streak which features just one top 10 in stroke play events since early February. It seems his first victory since 2012 will have to wait at least one more week. --L.K.D.
Birdie: Adam Scott
A day after shooting 77, Scott bounced back with a 67 that featured seven birdies and helped him make the cut on the number at even par. And to make things even better, he announced later in the day that he and longtime girlfriend Marie Kojzar had gotten married in secret on April 17th. In all, a good day for Adam Scott. Not so much for his legion of female admirers. --L.K.D.
Bogey: Tim Clark
The 2010 Players champion was doing his best to grind out a respectable round, sitting two over through 15 holes for the day after posting a one-under 71 Thursday. But he couldn't keep things together on TPC Sawgrass' closing holes, hitting balls in the water with his second shot on 16, tee shot on 17 and tee shot (and third shot) on 18. The ensuing bogey/double-bogey/quadruple-bogey finish and the resulting 81 meant Clark had missed the cut in the event for the sixth time in 12 overall appearances.--Ryan HerringtonTwitter: @GWcampusinsider
Birdie: Jim Furyk
Considering it's his home course, one would expect Furyk to have a great record here -- only he doesn't. Furyk has missed the cut two of the past three years and has only finished better than T-25 once since 2006. "I've had the golf course figured out for a long time. I just haven't played particularly well," Furyk said. With a Friday 68, he's certainly playing well this week, continuing a string of strong play in which he's finished in the top 15 four straight events, including a runner-up last week at the Wells Fargo. Getting to sleep in at his own home for a late Saturday tee time is an nice perk he'll have over most. --A.M.
Birdie: Brian Davis
Redemption was sweet for the Englishman on the island-green 17th. A day after fatting a shot into the water en route to a double-bogey 5 in the first round (which forced him to settle for a even-par 72), Davis stuck his tee ball to three feet on Friday. The resulting birdie was one of five on the day as he finished with 67 to jump into the top 15. If not for three double bogeys over the first 36 holes, Davis would be just one off Martin Kaymer's lead. --R.H.
Birdie: Rory McIlroy
How do you get a birdie for shooting 74? By rallying for a 32 on the back nine in windy conditions to get back to even par and make the cut on the number. Following a five-hole stretch on the front nine in which he shot six over, McIlroy birdied four of his final six holes, including the difficult par-4 18th. Last week at Quail Hollow, McIlroy expressed his displeasure at another back-door top-10 finish on the PGA Tour. If he were to pull off another such finish this week, though, he'd have to have a much rosier outlook. --A.M.