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Halfway hut at the Charles Schwab: Spieth shines as Mickelson misses cut

A round-up of the best stats, quotes and social after 36 holes of this week’s PGA TOUR event at Colonial Country Club in Texas.

Jordan Spieth seems an ever-present on PGA TOUR leaderboards these days.
So as we go into the weekend's play at the Charles Schwab Challenge in his native Texas, it seems the least surprising thing in the world that the Dallas man is out in front.
Spieth began his 2021 revival at February's Waste Management Phoenix Open when tied fourth and he was rewarded for his hot play with victory in last month's Texas Open.

Now he's leading in Texas again and this marks the 18th time since Phoenix that he's closed a round in the top four on the leaderboard. Not surprisingly, no rival can match that over the same period.

But while Spieth is sitting pretty at 11-under 129 following his Friday 66, newly-crowned PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelon is heading home after missing the cut.

The left-hander looked sluggish in an opening 3-over 73 but had played himself back inside the cut line after a bright opening to day two.

However, a suspension of two hours and 26 minutes for heavy rain and lightning hurt his momentum and the 50-year-old couldn't find the same spark when the round resumed.

Bogeys at two of the final three holes proved costly and Mickelson's tally of +2 was a shot too many.

Spieth, who played the first two days alongside Mickelson, wasn't adversely affected by the weather break and played a solid second nine of eight pars and a birdie to nudge ahead.

He leads by one from Jason Kokrak, while Sebastian Munoz, Sergio Garcia and Patton Kizzire are three shots off the lead on 8-under.

As for some of the other big names, Collin Morikawa (-5) is six back in tied 11th, Justin Rose (-4) tied 16th and Justin Thomas (-2) tied 30th

Like Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Sungjae Im and Scottie Scheffler won't be around for the weekend after missing the cut. A total of 75 players made it through on +1 or better.

Paddy Power odds after 36 holes: 10/11 Jordan Spieth, 9/2 Jason Kokrak, 12/1 Sergio Garcia, 16/1 Charley Hoffman, 20/1 Patton Kizzire, Collin Morikawa, 22/1 Sebastian Munoz, 35/1 Maverick McNealy, Adam Hadwin, 45/1 Daniel Berger, 50/1 Tony Finau, Brian Harman.

Here are the best stats, quotes and social from Colonial Country Club after 36 holes.

Click here for the leaderboard

Stats and facts

Spieth ranks 3rd for Strokes Gained: Putting, 6th for SG: Tee To Green, 8th SG: Off The Tee and 9th SG: Around The Green.
While others have made more birdies, Spieth is yet to card a single bogey through 36 holes. He's the only player in the field without a blemish on his card.
This is Spieth's 13th second-round lead/co-lead on the PGA TOUR. He's converted six of the previous 12 into a win.
Since 1990, 11 halfway leaders at the Charles Schwab Challenge have gone on to claim victory. Justin Rose (2018) was the last to do it.
Kokrak, who was tied third in this event last year, has fired two 65s to reach -10. In both rounds, he posted six birdies and a bogey. The American ranks 1st for SG: Tee To Green and 12th for SG: Putting.
Sergio Garcia, who held the 18-hole lead alongside Spieth after a 63, had to settle for a 69 on day two. He ranks 2nd overall for SG: Tee To Green but lost 1.224 strokes with the putter in round two (now 30th overall for SG: Putting).
Charley Hoffman carded the low round of the week, an 8-under 62 on Friday, to rocket 51 places up the leaderboard to tied sixth.

Quotes

Jordan Spieth on not being at his best

"I came out of the rain delay and I made a nice putt on 3, and really felt like I had a chance to birdie almost every hole on that front nine and even into the back nine.
"But I wasn't, I didn't swing it as well. I wasn't really completing it and it wasn't feeling great. I knew I was going to kind of have to manage my way around the golf course a little bit, and fortunately did a really great job of that. It's nice if you play a bogey-free round.
"I'm in a good spot at a familiar place, and just going to have to go check on the weather and set a goal for the weekend."

Jason Kokrak on his second straight 65

"You know, ball-striking was there today. I maybe didn't drive it quite as good as I did yesterday but irons were on top form. A couple miscues, one bogey. I hit the tree and got a bad lie in the bunker. It was plugged so I didn't really have a play about there, but a nice save there, and birdied No. 4. Giving myself a lot of birdie opportunities. If I can eliminate some silly mistakes, the bogeys will vanish.
"But other than that, I'm happy the way I'm hitting the ball, getting more comfortable on the greens and just give myself as many opportunities around this golf course as I can."

Sergio Garcia on his 1-under 69

"It's like a little bit of a sweet and sour kind of taste because I felt like I played really, really well on the front, and hit some really good putts. Unfortunately nothing wanted to drop. Then on the back, I just missed three or four drives, and you know, Colonial is like that. You miss the fairways just a little bit, usually you get blocked out and you're struggling; you're trying to figure out ways to make par.
"So unfortunately that was a little bit what happened on the back nine. But I was very happy to finish at least birdie, par, and bring it in with an under-par round. I think overall, I feel good about the way I'm hitting the ball. I feel comfortable. I like the work that I've done with TaylorMade the last two weeks to try to get everything dialed in as best as possible after these last three years that I wasn't with them.

"Hopefully I'll play great again on the weekend and have a really good shot at it."

Collin Morikawa on following an opening 69 with a morning 66

"I found a few more fairways and that's key out here. The rough is long, it's wet and you just want to give yourself good birdie opportunities. I feel like my irons have been going really well and I just have to stick to that. Hit some fairways, whether it's from 175 or a hundred yards, that's where my sweet spot is. Found that today.
"I like to tee off kind of that late/early tee time, kind of get into a little bit of a rhythm. I don't really like to tee off early and then have 24-plus hours before I tee off again. I was in a nice rhythm yesterday. I had some dinner with a couple of friends that just moved here, and you know, stuck to the game plan and rolled in some nice putts."

Charley Hoffman on his 8-under 62

"Fairly slow start, made a nice birdie on 2. Bogeyed 3 and made a nice save on 5. But yeah, I was able to hit some greens in the middle of the round and make some birdies, longer putts on 6 and 7, which is nice, sort of get the round going.

"And then hit it close on 9 and made a birdie there, and from there I hit a bunch of greens and fairly close and was able to capitalise on all those putts, which was nice, and not tap-ins; 12 to 15 feet, and was able to make those. It's always fun when those are going in."

Social

Jordan Speith draws out an unbelievable shot, Justin Rose's brilliant effort on the 4th, bunker hole-outs, Maverick McNealy rolling it nicely and Collin Morikawa making easy eagles!

Speith provides another moment of magic

Pinpoint perfection from Justin Rose
The sand proves to not be a problem for Tony Finau and Billy Horschel

Maverick McNealy and 30-footers go hand in hand

Collin Morikawa making it look so simple

READ MORE: Will the Bryson DeChambeau-Brooks Koepka spat hurt the USA's Ryder Cup chances?

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