Masters champion Jordan Spieth bounced back from an opening round of 3-over-par 74 with a bogey-free 62 and was six strokes back in a tie for seventh after two rounds of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
The 21-year-old Spieth, off his game in round one after going on a media blitz in New York since winning at Augusta National on Sunday, reeled off nine birdies in round two, including five on the last eight holes while finishing in the front nine .
“(I) found something in my ball position on the range this morning, and it made a significant difference in my ball-striking and in my putting,” said Spieth, who highlighted his round with a 40-foot chip-in on the eighth hole.
“I told (caddie) Michael (Greller) when the day started, ‘Hey, let’s try to get three (strokes) a side. Let’s try to shoot six(-under) today.’ And once we got a couple extra to go, it was off and running and don’t worry about your score, just keep on trying to make birdies.”
Troy Merritt came along in the afternoon to tie the course record with a bogey-free 61 and took a four-stroke lead over defending champion Matt Kuchar, playing alongside Spieth, who shot 66 and was tied for second with John Merrick of Long Beach and UCLA, who had a 65.
Spieth is trying to become the first player to win the Heritage a week after claiming the Green Jacket since Bernhard Langer of Germany in 1985.
