The Manila Times

Mitchell goes bogey-free at Quail, leads McIlroy by 2

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: Golf hasn’t had this much noise, this much energy, since before the Covid-19 pandemic. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that Rory McIlroy is right back in the thick of it at the Wells Fargo Championship.

He is playing in the final group for the first time since Riviera, a month before golf shut down and fans were mostly kept away the rest of 2020.

“It was buzzy, that atmosphere,” McIlroy said after a 3-under 68 left him two shots behind Keith Mitchell. “Just so cool to play in an atmosphere like that again. I’ve missed it.”

Sunday (Monday in Manila) should be quite a show, at least a loud one. The tournament was allowed 30-percent capacity, whatever that is on a sprawling golf course. Only a small majority of them are wearing masks, making it sound even louder.

Mitchell, who also felt drained of energy after the restart nearly a year ago, straightened out his putter and delivered big tee shots on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). He also avoided the mistakes that slowed McIlroy and Woodland,

and closed out a bogey-free 66 for a two-shot lead over both of them.

He will be going for his second PGA Tour victory, the first one coming at PGA National in the Honda Classic two years ago.

The putter issue is not a figure of speech.

After closing with an 82 in the Valspar Championship last week, Mitchell discovered his putter was out of alignment. He had it bent back to the right specifications and felt his game back to an upward trend.

“I just feel like everything’s really working,” said Mitchell, who was at 9-under 204.

McIlroy will be right there along for the ride.

A two-time winner at Quail Hollow, McIlroy raced out to the lead, steadied himself after a double bogey on the 12th hole when his drive hit a cart path and played mistake-free the rest of the way. Winless the last 18 months, McIlroy will be in the final group for the first time since Riviera more than a year ago.

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2021-05-10T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-10T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/282059099876129

The Manila Times