GREENSBORO — It didn’t take long Friday for the largest crowds at the tournament to flock to two groupings later in the day. Billy Horschel and Justin Thomas, both on the bubble for making the cut to start the day, would waste no time in drawing the eye of patrons in the afternoon wave of tee times.
Fan favorite Justin Thomas’ PGA season has been less than stellar, coming into this week’s Wyndham Championship. After riding a wave of success, including major victories and Ryder Cup stardom, Thomas has been looking for a spark to not only put him into contention for a postseason run, but also a chance at playing on this fall’s Ryder Cup team.
Coming into the second round, Thomas would need low scores to make the cut and give him a shot at sneaking into both postseason activities.
Friday may be just the spark Thomas needed.
Thomas wasted no time in attempting to make a move up the field on Friday afternoon, shooting birdies on three of his first five opening holes and moving him solidly inside the cut line to make the weekend
Thomas would then go on to finish his final 10 holes with four birdies to get him to five-under for the tournament, within striking distance of the clubhouse leader Russell Henley.
Billy Horschel, also on the bubble to make the weekend to start the day, had arguably the most impressive round of the day.
Horschel would start his round relatively quietly, paring his first three holes before going on a tear to finish his front nine to include three birdies and a hole-out eagle on the eighth hole.
Horschel would follow up that play by adding four birdies, three of which came on his last four holes, to post a 62 for the day and move into solo second place heading into the weekend.
Thomas sits at five-under, tied for 21st, and Horschel sits at 11-under in solo second and will be paired Saturday with overnight leader Henley.
