Flourtown, Pennsylvania – Keith Mitchell, renowned for holding early leads but struggling to maintain them in previous tournaments, is displaying his consistent performance at the Truist Championship. Following a record-breaking first round, Mitchell delivered a solid 3-under 67 on Friday, preserving a single-stroke lead after two rounds at the prestigious Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course.
Mitchell, who posted an impressive 61 on Thursday, managed to balance two bogeys with five birdies, including a streak from the 3rd to the 5th hole, resulting in a 12-under total. Shane Lowry is one shot behind at 11 under after scoring a remarkable 5-under 65, with Sepp Straka close on their heels after a 67. Defending champion Rory McIlroy recorded a 3-under 67 to join a tied group for fourth at 7 under.
Reflecting on his performance, Mitchell expressed growing comfort at the top: “I guess just being a little more comfortable in that position,” Mitchell noted. His recent experiences have equipped him to sustain his lead through the tournament’s entirety, emphasizing that the competition awards nothing for leading after just one round. “It’s a four-round tournament. They don’t give any points or money out on Thursday. So I’ve got to keep it going.”
After a day where most of the no-cut field beat par in ideal weather, the conditions changed Friday as overnight rain made the greens softer. The course was more challenging with sporadic showers and cooler temperatures, extending the challenge over its 7,100-yard, par-70 layout during the tour’s sixth headline event.
Unfazed by the weather, Lowry achieved the day’s lowest score. Meanwhile, McIlroy, Colin Morikawa (70), Patrick Cantlay (68), and Justin Thomas (67) continue to strive, all tied at 7 under. Mitchell remained focused throughout, sticking diligently to the preplanned strategy adapted for A.W. Tillinghast’s 1922 course design, recovering from setbacks with pivotal birdies.
Lowry, opening with a 64, made an impressive four birdies in the opening eight holes. Despite a bogey at the 10th, he recovered with a spectacular 53-foot birdie putt at the 11th and finished strong with another birdie at the 15th. Addressing comments about his advantage in damp conditions, usually attributed to his Irish roots, Lowry remarked, “I think I’m able to handle them probably better than a few people, but I don’t particularly like or enjoy going out and playing in these conditions.”
McIlroy had a mixed round with six birdies offset by three bogeys. Fresh from winning the career Grand Slam at the Masters, he exhibited bold tactics at the Wissahickon Course. His long-range success on the greens was a feature, sinking several significant putts, yet he noted areas for refinement before the upcoming PGA Championship. “I made what I feel are some uncharacteristic mistakes compared to how I’ve played the majority of the year,” he said. “So, just got to try to iron that out over the next couple of days.”
Denny McCarthy, who was close behind after the first round, dropped to 5 under following a challenging second-round score of 73.