World Golf challenge: Jordan Spieth seizes a share of lead

Despite weather threatening, scores continued to plummet at this elite 18-man event and with the wind still holding off, the field stayed on course for low totals with the exception of Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who is still to break pat here.

The leaders were one shot ahead of Chris Kirk and Patrick Reed, who both shot course record equalling seven-under 65s, and Bubba Watson, who continues to lurk dangerously with a second straight 67. After a steady round on the opening day, Anirban Lahiri fell off the pace somewhat, dropping to 14th alongside J.B. Holmes on five under 139 with a day’s card of two under par 70.

Spieth went birdie, bogey, par, bogey before picking up three straight shots on his front nine. He then picked up pace with an eagle a further two birdies. The world number one was 11-under 133 at the same stage last year in Orlando, Florida, before shooting 63-66 on the weekend to romp home by 10 strokes, 26 under par overall.

Lahiri was disappointed with his two-under 70 after missing a bunch of birdies chances but also ending the day with a double bogey that saw him drop from seven-under to five-under. “It was a 70 that felt like an 80,” said Lahiri later. “You could see what happened. I missed so many chances.”

Lahiri started with birdies on first, third and sixth, but a missed birdie on the seventh hole from inside five feet halted the momentum. He then missed another up-and-down on the ninth.

“I need to do some putting drills to get that confidence back in it. I hit the ball well enough as anyone. I should have been in double digits and I am not even close to it. The putts just did not fall,” said Lahiri. “This should have been a 65.”

Spieth continues to be favoured to retain his crown, but 12 of the 18 players are within four shots of the leaders. At one stage on the back nine, the lead was shared by no less than seven players.

“Certainly when we’re on the golf course I’m definitely up there. I’m just talking about off the course preparation, has been half vacation, half preparation. But on the golf course, I mean I’m still getting as intense and upset and highs and lows that I experience at a normal PGA Tour event,” Spieth said.

“It’s still all about rest. I mean, for me coming off how much golf we’ve been playing, I’m still going to be about making sure I’m resting. I’m not killing myself out here. You don’t want to wear yourself down. I don’t think I’ll do anything after the round today once again.”

“The grind is still there.” “The scores are just really good, which makes for an exciting weekend, and I’m just happy to hold my own weight for two days,” Haas, who was tied second after the first day, said.