Walker takes lead at WGC as McIlroy finds a birdie

Jimmy Walker acknowledges the crowd after making his putt on the eighth at Firestone on Friday. Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Walker acknowledges the crowd after making his putt on the eighth at Firestone on Friday. Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

Published Aug 5, 2017

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AKRON, Ohio – Jimmy Walker, one week away from the defence of his PGA Championship title, fired a five-under 65 to seize a two-shot lead after two rounds of the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational on Friday.

Walker was unfazed by a pair of weather delays totalling nearly five hours and registered six birdies and a bogey to reach the midway mark on seven-under-par 133 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.

First-round leader Thomas Pieters of Belgium was alone in second after adding a level-par 70 to his opening 65.

Tied for third on four-under 136 were world number three Hideki Matsuyama, who posted three late birdies for 67, four-times major winner Rory McIlroy (69) and twice major winner Zach Johnson (67).

“Once we got back out there after the delay, I think everybody felt a little flat,” said McIlroy. “I didn’t help myself by missing a few chances as soon as we came back out.

“Luckily I found one birdie coming in,” added the Northern Irishman, who chipped in for birdie at the 16th.

Open champion Jordan Spieth shot even-par to stand another shot back, with Australian Jason Day among six players bunched at 137.

Day got as low as five-under with five birdies on the front nine despite feeling a tweak in his back early in the round.

He later suffered from the effects, pulling tee shots left into trees and rough, and made his way gingerly to the finish.

Walker is winless this season and has struggled since being diagnosed with Lyme disease in April.

He has been unable to make an impact at the big events, finishing tied for 54th at the Open Championship, tied for 56th at The Players and missing the cut at the US Open.

The Texan said it had been a very long day, beginning two hours early in hopes of getting done ahead of expected thunderstorms, but just what he needed.

Jordan Spieth talks with Rory McIlroyduring the second round of the Bridgestone Invitational. Photo: Tony Dejak, AP

“It did feel like a marathon, but was a great day. Played solid, hit it well, made some putts,” said Walker, who has been plagued by bouts of fatigue among other disease symptoms.

“It’s just important for me to have a good week. I haven’t had too many this year.”

McIlroy, playing his first tournament since sacking long-time caddie JP Fitzgerald as he tries to turn around a so-far disappointing season, chipped in for birdie at the 16th en route to a one-under 69, while Japan’s Matsuyama and America’s Johnson both shot 67.

“Once we got back out there after the delay, I think everybody felt a little flat,” McIlroy said of playing after the afternoon delay of more than three hours.

“I didn’t help myself by missing a few chances as soon as we came back out. Luckily I found one birdie coming in.”

Day had charged up the leaderboard with four birdies in his first five holes and five birdies on the front nine.

But he appeared to tweak his troublesome back, and had two bogeys and a birdie coming in.

Reuters, AFP

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