FORT WORTH, Texas — Jordan Spieth, not Phil Mickelson, is going to be the player to watch this weekend at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Spieth, a North Texas native, is leading the tournament at 11-under through two rounds, posting a 4-under bogey-free 66 on a soggy Friday afternoon at Colonial Country Club.
Spieth, who had to endure a 2 1/2-hour weather delay along with the rest of the afternoon wave, made three birdies on his front nine and then one more on No. 14 to move to the top of the leaderboard at 11-under.
“I’m in a good spot at a familiar place,” Spieth said. “Just going to have to go check on the weather and set a goal for the weekend.”
Spieth made a 21-footer for birdie to take the lead on No. 14. He made a 23-foot birdie putt on No. 3, the start of Colonial’s famed “Horrible Horseshoe.”
Spieth said he “felt pretty good” with the putter all day.
“I came out of the rain delay and I made a nice putt on 3,” he said. “And really felt like I had a chance to birdie almost every hole on that front nine and even into the back nine.”
Spieth, the 2016 Colonial champion, is one shot in front of Jason Kokrak, who surged up the leaderboard during the morning wave with a second consecutive 5-under 65.
Mickelson, who was paired with Spieth and defending champion Daniel Berger the first two days, missed a 13-foot par putt on No. 18 that would have gotten him inside the cut line. Instead, he missed it by a stroke, posting a 2-over score over two days.
Mickelson drew most of the attention the first two days, but that will shift to Spieth on the weekend. He’s in position to win his second plaid jacket.
Others within striking distance start with Kokrak, who finished third at last year’s event and won his first PGA Tour event last fall. Three players are tied for third at 8-under, including Sergio Garcia, Sebastian Munoz and Patton Kizzire.
Garcia, who was tied with Spieth after Day 1, fired a 1-under 69 with two birdies and one bogey. Munoz, who played at North Texas, had two stretches with three straight birdies but also made a double-bogey on No. 15. Kizzire’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 first.
“Overall, I feel good about the way I’m hitting the ball. I feel comfortable,” said Garcia, who won the 2001 Colonial for his first PGA Tour victory 20 years ago. “Hopefully I’ll play great again on the weekend and have a really good shot at it.”
There were some other low scores on the day.
Charley Hoffman shot an 8-under 62, one off the course’s tournament record of 61. Maverick McNealy had a 7-under 63.
“I was able to hit some greens in the middle of the round and make some birdies,” said Hoffman, who is tied for sixth at 7-under.
Said McNealy, who is also tied for sixth: “I love the golf course. I feel really comfortable on these bentgrass greens, and just want to give myself a chance on Sunday.”
Players sitting a little further back who could make a run include Collin Morikawa (5-under, T11), last year’s runner-up who won the 2020 PGA Championship. Previous Colonial champions Berger, Justin Rose (2018) and Kevin Kisner (2017) are among several at 4-under for the tournament.
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TCU product and Fort Worth resident J.J. Henry will play the weekend at his 20th career Colonial.
Henry drained a 12-footer for birdie on No. 9, his final hole of the day Friday to secure a spot inside the cut line. Henry is tied for 49th at even par. It’s the ninth career cut Henry has made at Colonial. His best finish is a tie for 22nd in 2009.
Colonial member and Colleyville resident Ryan Palmer also secured a spot on the weekend and is also at even-par for the tournament. Palmer bounced back from a disappointing first round with a 4-under 66 on Friday.
Palmer’s best finish was a tie for third in 2016, the year Spieth won.
