Charlotte, North Carolina: Jordan Spieth acknowledged after the second round of the PGA Championship that it will take some “crazy stuff” for him to complete the career grand slam on Sunday.
After speaking so positively ahead of the final major of the year, Spieth’s challenge never left the launch pad over the first 36 holes at Quail Hollow.
Eleven strokes behind at three-over 145, he will almost certainly have to wait another year to have an opportunity to complete the grand slam of all four modern majors.
His putting let him down in the first round, while on Friday he played too conservatively down the stretch in relatively easy late-afternoon conditions, after rain had taken the sting out of the greens.
“I kind of accept the fact that I’m essentially out of this tournament pending some form of crazy stuff the next couple of days,” he said after a one-birdie 73.
“I’m sure going to give it a try.” He was frustrated with himself for playing away from danger over the final stretch of holes where water comes into play.
“I’m a little upset at the bailing out I did on a couple of shots. Just no reason to bail out on those at this point in the position I was in.” Asked if he had a score in mind over the weekend, he said “54 would be nice” before adding more seriously that he would just go as low as he could.
Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy is also all but out of contention, 10 strokes behind after being on the harder side of the draw, late on Thursday and early Friday, before the rain.
“I feel like I’m still right there in the tournament,” he said, speaking before Hideki Matsuyama had carded 64 to join Kevin Kisner in the lead at eight-under.
McIlroy is a two-time winner at Quail Hollow.
