MEXICO CITY – Notes and observations from Friday’s second round of the World Golf Championships – Mexico Championship, where Rory McIlroy holed out for an eagle 2 at the 14th hole to shoot 65 for a 9-under total and a two-shot lead over Ross Fisher (68), Phil Mickelson (68) and late finisher Justin Thomas (66). Daniel Berger (66), No. 1 Dustin Johnson (66) and Andy Sullivan (65) are another shot back, just three behind halfway through the tournament. For more coverage from Club de Golf Chapultepec, click here for the Daily Wrap-up. RORY SHINES IN RETURN TO TOUR, HEALTH Although he missed a three-and-a-half-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole, McIlroy was understandably pleased with his second round — tied for the best of the day, and the week — with England’s Sullivan. The former No. 1 McIlroy, who could return to the top spot with a win, has hit 29 of 36 greens in regulation and leads the field in strokes gained: off the tee and strokes gained: tee to green. He’s second in driving distance, and so it’s no surprise that he tops a bunched leaderboard with 18 players within five shots of the lead. Actually, it is a surprise — to McIlroy. “Coming in here this week, I definitely would have taken a top 10,” said McIlroy, who is coming off a month-and-a-half-long break due to a rib injury. “It would have been a great start to come back, but I’m in a great position and I can think about trying to win this thing.” Bothered by a stomach bug in round one, McIlroy reported feeling “brand new” Friday after getting about 14 hours of rest overnight. He was playing well at 4 under through 13 holes when his round got an jolt of luck, a fortunate bounce that led to an eagle at the par-4 14th. “Overall if you had told me at the start of the week that I would be leading by two going into the weekend,” he said, “I definitely would have taken it.” TIM MICKELSON TO THE RESCUE Phil Mickelson’s little brother Tim, Jon Rahm’s agent, took the bag when Mickelson’s regular caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay had to bow out with a stomach ailment before completing even four holes. It was the first time since this WGC was played at Valderrama, Spain, in 1999 that the stolid Mackay hasn’t been on the bag. The drama didn’t seem to bother Phil any, who hit just six of 14 fairways but still shot a second-round 68, which left him two behind leader McIlroy. “My brother’s a great player and he did a phenomenal job today,” Phil Mickelson said. Mackay was feeling so sick before the round, Phil said it was only a matter of how many holes his regular man would finish, not whether he would make it around all 18. “I was having breakfast and Phil called,” Tim Mickelson said. “He said, ‘In case something happens, just be around.’” Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen and Brandt Snedeker had made it to the 13th green when Mackay, who recently underwent double knee-replacement, could go no farther. That’s when Mickelson’s manager Steve Loy hastily summoned Tim Mickelson, who was coming out of a portable bathroom as Mackay was taken away in a cart. Tim fell into the role easily, except for one thing. “I probably got a little burnt,” he said. “I didn’t have a hat the first six or seven holes.” As for what the other caddies told him, he added: “They just said, ‘Look, Bones has done a great job so far today. Don’t screw it up.’” CALL OF THE DAY D.J. STILL FIGHTING PUTTER Dustin Johnson fought through a handful of short misses for the second straight day on the greens, but still managed a 5-under 66 to get into contention, just three behind the pace of McIlroy. “I felt like today was a lot of the same as yesterday,” said Johnson, who took 27 strokes on the greens and ranks 59th in strokes gained putting in the 76-player field. “I felt like I hit the ball really well, had a lot of good looks at birdie. It’s just really difficult to get the ball in the hole here.” That said, Johnson, who ranks second in strokes gained: tee to green, remained optimistic. “I felt like I’m swinging the club pretty well, controlling my distance pretty well, and I’m hitting a lot of great shots,” he said. “So, yeah, I’m looking forward to the weekend. I feel like I’m in a good position.” SHOT OF THE DAY HOLE-OUTS GALORE It was one of those days on the PGA TOUR when the ball seems to go in from everywhere. Among the highlights: Jordan Spieth chipped in for eagle at the par-5 15th hole, then played a perfect shot at the 16th hole and watched it roll backward into the hole for a birdie. Two straight holes, no putts required. Alas, he lost any momentum when he hit his tee shot out of bounds and triple-bogeyed the short first hole, and his second-round 71 left him at 1 over par, 10 off the lead. Andy Sullivan (65, 6 under) hit a full sand wedge that backed up and went in the hole at the par-4 ninth hole. Tommy Fleetwood holed a bunker shot for eagle at the par-5 sixth hole, and McIlroy cracked up after slightly tugging his “sawed-off 9-iron” approach but watched as his ball took a fortuitous hop and rolled into the hole for an eagle 2 at the 14th. ODDS AND ENDS Ross Fisher (68, 7 under) is still rolling, first in strokes gained: putting, with his new TaylorMade Spider putter. … Fisher shined despite the mighty struggles of his playing partners. South Korea’s K.T. Kim shot 75 and was at 11 over, while Australia’s Matthew Griffin signed for a 77 to soar to 13 over. … Anyone looking to make a big comeback over the final 36 holes can look to Bruce Lietzke. At the 2002 Audi Senior Classic at Club de Golf Chapultepec, Lietzke opened with a 75 but stormed back with scores of 66-67 to edge Hale Irwin and Gary McCord by a shot. … Mickelson got another chance to practice what he calls his limited Spanish as he signed autographs and a large scrum of children squawked like seagulls. “No es necessario,” Mickelson said amid the commotion. “Solamente uno. I’ll try to get to everybody.” BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Click here to read the full article…
