The weathermen got it (kinda) right Friday as winds did blow into Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando on Day 2 of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, just not as bad as originally projected.
They were enough, however, to push Jon Rahm, the 18-hole leader, off course as the Spaniard shot a second-round 4-over 76.
Let the man himself tell you just how tough it was out there: “It’s f****ing hard.”
He’s 3 under and six back heading into the weekend.
The wind was no problem for Kurt Kitayama, however. He followed up his Thursday 67 with an impressive 4-under 68 with his lone bogey coming at the easiest hole on the golf course, the par-5 16th.
He closed out his day with a dart from 156 yards on the par-4 18th and a finishing circle.
“It’s always a fun challenge keeping yourself in the moment,” he said after his round. “I feel like when you get conditions like this it’s easy to kind of let things get away from you. For me it’s just keeping myself focused the entire way. There’s no, you can’t let up at all mentally.”
This is Kitayama’s third 36-hole lead this season. He’s yet to convert.
If you missed any of the action Friday, no worries, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know from the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Note: Play was suspended Friday with two players left on the golf course. The cut line currently sits at 2 over.
Play was suspended due to darkness at 6:47 p.m. with two players left on No. 9: Justin Suh (-2) and Greg Koch (+2).
If Koch makes birdie, the cut will move to 1-over (as long as Suh stays at 1-over or better). Otherwise, it will be 2-over.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 3, 2023
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