Jordan Spieth in early tie for lead at Byron Nelson
ByReuters
Updated 20/05/2016 at 21:48 GMT
Hometown favourite Jordan Spieth was not at his best with his iron play but drained two lengthy birdie putts as he charged into a share of the early second-round lead at the weather-hit AT&T Byron Nelson in Texas on Friday.
Jordan Spieth reacts after missing a putt on the 5th green during the second round of the 2016 Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course.
Image credit: Eurosport
The U.S. Open champion kept errors to a minimum as he followed his opening 64 with a five-under-par 65 at the rain-softened TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving to post an 11-under total of 129.
Spieth reeled off five birdies in his first nine holes, including a 21-footer at the 14th and a 35-footer at the 17th, before finishing level with fellow Americans Brooks Koepka (64) and Bud Cauley (65).
American Wes Roach, back on the PGA Tour after a successful Web.com Tour campaign in 2015, carded a 66 for a 10-under total, one stroke better than compatriot Bryce Molder (65).
Spieth, who missed the cut at last week's Players Championship in his first PGA Tour start since his shocking collapse at last month's Masters, was happy after making "very limited mistakes" at the TPC Four Seasons Resort.
"Again, I just took advantage of the easier holes," the 22-year-old told reporters. "Had a couple of longer putts go in today and found both the par-fives in two to two-putt and tap in for those two birdies.
"So very limited mistakes. I have three-putted 13 twice and that's really the only mistakes that I have made this week, even not quite feeling like I have my best iron play right now."
Spieth, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour who is known for his brilliant putting, said he felt much more in control of his game on the green than he did with an iron in his hand.
"You'd certainly like to feel like you have full control over the ball every time you step over it but that's not reality in golf," the American world number two smiled. "I'd like to have a bit more.
"I don't feel like I am tied for the lead right now, it's not the feeling I have when I stand over an iron shot but when I stand over my putter right now, it's back to where we like to have it."
New Zealander Danny Lee, joint leader when the opening round was completed earlier on Friday, shot 69 to finish at eight-under with Americans Patrick Rodgers (65), Dustin Johnson (68) and Tom Hoge (68), and Swede Freddie Jacobson (68).
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