Jordan Spieth shoots 62 and trails by 1 among early finishers at his hometown Byron Nelson
McKINNEY, Texas — Jordan Spieth could only watch a year ago as good buddy Scottie Scheffler became the first of the two to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, the hometown event they both cherish. Spieth is giving himself a good chance to answer. The three-time major winner started his back nine — the front side of TPC Craig Ranch — with six consecutive birdies on the way to a 9-under 62 in the second round Friday.
Spieth is one shot behind playing partner Sungjae Im, who aced the par-3 seventh moments after Spieth’s sixth birdie in a row and shot 61. The South Korean was tied for the early second-round lead at 13-under 129 with Japan’s Kensei Harata. Scheffler started at 5 under in an afternoon pairing with Brooks Koepka, who opened with a 63 and is looking for his first victory since his return to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf.
Tyler Duncan shot 66 to join Spieth at 12 under, one stroke ahead of first-round leader Taylor Moore, who followed his opening 62 with a 69. Spieth credited a par 4 at No. 18 for setting up his birdie binge, which started with a 12-footer.
He hit the first four fairways after struggling off the tee on his first nine, made a 12-footer at the par-3 fourth, a 4-footer on the par-5 fifth and capped the surge from 9 feet on the sixth. After Spieth put his tee 29 feet right of a pin to the far left at No. 7, Im bounced his 222-yard shot between the fringe and the hole and watched it roll in, raising his arms and looking skyward after the ball dropped out of sight.
The 28-year-old was tied for the lead at that point. “That was one of the prettiest hole-in-ones I’ve ever seen,” Spieth said. “Prettier than any one I ever made.