ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Rebounding from a disappointing finish in the first round of the RSM Classic, William McGirt flipped the script on Friday at the Plantation Course.
The 38-year-old Fairmont native birdied his final three holes to post a 4-under 68 in the second round, making the cut for the third straight time to start his eighth season on the PGA Tour.
Sparking his round with a birdie on the opening hole, McGirt rolled in his second birdie of the round on the par-5 fourth hole to make the turn at 2 under. Following a bogey — his only blemish of the round — on the par-3 15th, McGirt finished the day with birdies on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 to get in the clubhouse at 4 under.
Grouped with Henrik Norlander and three-time major champion Padraig Harrington in the third round, McGirt will tee off at 10:15 a.m. this morning from the 10th tee box.
PGA Tour rookie Austin Cook sank a birdie putt on his final hole for an 8-under 62 and a one-shot lead going into the weekend. Cook has gone 36 holes without making a bogey on the Plantation Course or the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club. He played Seaside on Friday and ran off four straight birdies on his opening nine holes.
Cook was at 14-under 128 and had a one-stroke lead over Brian Gay, who shot 64 on Seaside. No one else was closer than five shots going into the final two rounds.
