Dean and DeLuca Invitational: Highlights from Round 2

Check out some of the top shots of the day from Round 2 of the Dean and DeLuca Invitational.

We’re only through two days of the Dean and DeLuca Invitational, but it’s probably safe to say that a strong percentage of this week’s field is ready for a break. The weather in Fort Worth has been scorching, and while the low rounds are out there, no one’s been able to post two in a row.

Still, we’ve seen our share of birdies, and with so many players still in it, we’re sure to see more in the coming days. Did you miss today’s action while you were at work? Not sure of what to expect from the weekend rounds? It’s all here in our rundown of the top highlights from Day 2 at the Dean and DeLuca Invitational.

Within striking distance of the lead, Kisner gets aggressive

Despite all his near misses over the years, Kevin Kisner has just one PGA TOUR victory to his name. Don’t look now, but that could change this week.

With eight birdies and just two bogeys in his first two rounds, the South Carolina native has been playing the kind of steady golf that wins tournaments. Part of winning is being aggressive when the situation calls for it, just as Kisner was on Friday with his approach shot at the fifth hole.

Standing on the fairway, Kisner hit his approach to within six feet, nicely setting himself up for a birdie putt. Five minutes, he knocked it in with authority to move within one shot of the lead. Kisner was just the ninth player of the day to make birdie on No. 5, a testament to his good play.

Now, through 36 holes, Kisner shares the Dean and DeLuca Invitational lead with Webb Simpson, Scott Piercy and Danny Lee. Only time will tell if he can finally nab that elusive second victory.

Spieth gets going on the greens

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The month of May has been a bit of a rough patch for 23-year-old Jordan Spieth. Coming into this week on the heels of back-to-back missed cuts, he was surely excited at the prospect of defending his title at the Dean and DeLuca Invitational, and after today’s sterling performance on the front nine, he’s definitely a weekend frontrunner.

After starting the week with an opening 70 — good for a share of 34th place — Spieth continued his sluggish play on Friday. Kicking his day off on the back nine, the Dallas native made three bogeys and just one birdie to make the turn at two-over. His luck changed on the front, however, and Spieth ended up making four birdies in the first five holes, including this nifty 25-footer.

Spieth cooled down from there, but thanks to his barrage of birdies, he was able to take a 68 into the clubhouse. He’s now tied for 11th place through 36 holes, four strokes off the leading pace.

Mickelson shows accuracy and flexibility with approach shot

They say that the body is supposed to grow less limber with age, but it seems Phil Mickelson never got the memo. On Friday, the five-time major champion — and psoriatic arthritis sufferer — showed us a high step that would earn the approval of any strength and conditioning coach, belying his age of 46.

With his ball lying in a patch of trampled rough, Mickelson hit it over the trees and close to the hole for a good look at birdie. Clearly feeling good about the shot, he ignored the assist from the volunteer pulling up on the rope and instead decided to whip his left leg over the obstruction, getting a surprised reaction from the broadcasters.

Theatrics aside, it was a tough day for Lefty. He went on to miss that birdie putt, and his struggles continued throughout the round, leading to an ugly 75. But while his sloppy play wasn’t anything of note, that moment on the third fairway could make its way onto any number of highlight reels.

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