PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - So much for that Masters hangover for Jordan Spieth.
In his first big tournament since the 20-year-old Texan tied for second at Augusta National, Spieth had another bogey-free round Friday in The Players Championship and shot a 6-under 66 to trail Martin Kaymer by one shot going into the weekend.
Kaymer tied the course record with a 63 in the opening round - becoming the first player with a 29 on either nine - and his encore wasn't too shabby. He treated the second round like a fresh start, lowered his expectations and capped off his 3-under 69 with a pitching wedge to 4 feet on an island green with a back pin on the 17th hole.
The 29-year-old German was at 12-under 132. That matched the best 36-hole score on the Stadium Course at the TPC Sawgrass in 20 years, dating to Greg Norman's record-setting performance. Norman made only one bogey that week.
Adam Scott, in his first tournament as a married man, kept alive his hopes of going to No. 1 in the world this week with three birdies in his last four holes for a 67. That was a 10-shot improvement from Thursday and enabled him to make the cut on the number at even-par 144.
Rory McIlroy shot 42 on the front nine and appeared headed home early until making birdie on the 18th hole to salvage a 74 to make the cut.
Not so fortunate was Phil Mickelson. He missed his birdie attempt on No. 18 and had a 70 to miss by one. Mickelson now has missed the cut in the two biggest events of the year - the Masters and The Players.
Russell Henley didn't make a par over his last six holes - three bogeys, three birdies - for a 71 and was in third place at 8-under 136. Sergio Garcia (71), U.S. Open champion Justin Rose (71), Gary Woodland (71), Lee Westwood (71) and Jim Furyk (68) were six shots behind.
MADEIRA ISLANDS OPEN
SANTO DA SERRA, Madeira Islands (AP) - Scotland's Scott Henry shot a 5-under 67 to top the leaderboard during the suspended first round of the fog-shrouded Madeira Islands Open.
The heavy fog that wiped out play Thursday returned morning Friday and caused a four-hour delay, forcing organizers to shorten the event to 54 holes. Only half of the 144 players completed the first round.
Portuguese amateur Joao Carlota was 4 under after 4 holes.