CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Xander Schauffele has been a mainstay close to the highest of the leaderboard a lot of the 12 months. Now he is hoping to shut the door.
Schauffele shot a 4-under 67 on Friday after opening with a 64, leaving him at 11-under 131 and 4 photographs forward of Rory McIlroy and Jason Day heading into the weekend on the Wells Fargo Championship.
Taylor Moore and Sungjae Im had been 5 strokes again at 6 underneath.
The 30-year-old Schauffele has seven top-10 finishes this season, however no wins. He’s seeking to snap a winless streak that dates to July 2022 on the Genesis Scottish Open.
“I’ve had a couple of knocks on the door, and I simply inform myself to maintain knocking,” Schauffele mentioned.
Schauffele mentioned the drought is one thing he’s all the time serious about however added that the hardest half is simply to remain within the current.
“You simply have to acknowledge the state of affairs you might be in and notice that you’re enjoying some good golf and simply get out of your personal manner at instances,” Schauffele mentioned.
Schauffele was locked in a lot of the day.
He hit 15 greens, and his solely hiccup got here when he made bogey on the 18th gap whereas he was attempting to hurry to complete his spherical and beat a storm that might droop play for about an hour. Play ultimately did resume, however Schauffele feared he must stand up early to play a shot or two after which wait a number of hours to play his third spherical Saturday.
“It is silly to say, however I would quite take the 5 at this level after hitting such a nasty chip versus waking up tremendous early and having to reset your day,” Schauffele mentioned. “It is all good.”
McIlroy entered the day three photographs behind Schauffele however managed to lose floor regardless of not making a bogey. McIlroy completed with a 68. He had a number of alternatives to place the strain on Schauffele however missed a couple of makeable putts.
Nonetheless, the star from Northern Eire walked away feeling good about his play.
“Felt like I in all probability may have squeezed a pair extra out of the spherical, however anytime you may go round this golf course bogey free it is all the time going to be a good day,” mentioned McIlroy, who teamed with Shane Lowry to win the Zurich Basic two weeks in the past.
The world’s No. 2-ranked participant has had some spectacular weekend performances earlier than at Quail Hole, together with a club-record 61 in 2015. He closed with a 62 in 2010 to win his first PGA Tour title.
He mentioned he’ll lean on these as he units his sights on catching Schauffele.
“Anytime you are enjoying a golf course the place you have shot some actually low scores, you understand that it is on the market,” McIlroy mentioned. “The golf course is enjoying quite a bit in a different way this week than it performed in 2010 and 2015, however I do know if I get it going round right here I could make some birdies and chase him down.”
McIlroy is the one three-time winner of the occasion. He mentioned the course fits his sport nicely as a result of it permits him to benefit from his distance off the tee.
“I’ve had so many good reminiscences right here. I simply really feel optimistic vibes,” McIlroy mentioned. “I be ok with myself after I’m strolling round right here.”
Day additionally had a 67. The Australian has struggled of late, with just one top-25 end in his previous six occasions.
“I’ve had a run during the last month and a half, two months, the place it is simply been form of poor play, poor hitting,” Day mentioned. “I have been shedding a ton of strokes to the sector strategy to inexperienced, not essentially on the motive force. It is bizarre. It is form of unusual to drive it decently nicely and to hit it poor coming into the greens.”
Max Homa, the one participant apart from McIlroy with a number of wins on the Wells Fargo Championship, was eight photographs behind after a 70. Justin Thomas additionally was 3 underneath after a 71.
#Xander #Schauffele #leads #PGA #Excursions #Wells #Fargo #Championship