Friday at the Truist Championship saw Keith Mitchell maintain his lead through challenging weather, while Rory McIlroy's outspoken comments on tour politics and equipment dominated discussions.

• Lead bullet – Keith Mitchell battled cooler, wetter conditions at Wissahickon, carding a 67 to hold a one-shot lead at -12. Players faced tougher scoring with preferred lies in effect, adjusting to heavier air and less roll.
• Secondary bullet – Shane Lowry fired a stellar 65 to sit just one shot back at -11, noting his game feels "really good."
• Tertiary bullet – Lowry also shared his enjoyment playing alongside local hero Jason Kelce in the pro-am and reiterated his popular suggestion for a player cool-down period post-round.

• Lead bullet – Rory McIlroy's "scrappy" 67 was overshadowed by his candid admission of consciously stepping back from PGA Tour policy debates since September to refocus on his golf, a significant shift in his public stance.
• Secondary bullet – He also argued classic courses are becoming "obsolete" due to modern ball distances, suggesting a shorter, "tournament ball" would reintroduce strategic play.
• Tertiary bullet – Justin Thomas echoed the sentiment on course difficulty, noting the need for longer clubs, while a star-studded chase pack including Thomas, McIlroy, and Morikawa sits at -7.

Woodland & Im climb leaderboard • McCarthy & Zalatoris fall back • Adam Scott continues swing work

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Recapping Round 1 of the Truist Championship, where Keith Mitchell's stunning 61 set the pace on a scorable Wissahickon, leading a star-studded leaderboard before a challenging weather shift.

ROUND 1 RECAP: MITCHELL LEADS THE CHARGE

- Lead bullet – Keith Mitchell fired a blistering nine-under 61 to seize the Round 1 lead at the Truist Championship, masterfully navigating Wissahickon's receptive conditions that yielded a day of exceptionally low scoring.

- Secondary bullet – Denny McCarthy sits just one shot back at eight-under, with a formidable group including a resurgent Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, Sepp Straka, and Akshay Bhatia all carding seven-under.

- Tertiary bullet – Mitchell credited his driver on the "old school" A.W. Tillinghast design, while Fowler's form benefits from a recent iron adjustment, and Morikawa wields a familiar blade putter with new caddie Joe Greiner.

NOTABLE NAMES & COURSE STRATEGY

- Lead bullet – Defending champ Rory McIlroy (-4) used the day for vital prep, acknowledging rust on a different venue, while Justin Thomas (-4) praised the classic course. Xander Schauffele and Alex Noren both returned strong at three-under.

- Secondary bullet – Philadelphia Cricket Club's Director of Golf, Jim Smith Junior, shed light on the strategic demands of holes like the par-five fifteenth and Wissahickon's challenging closing stretch.

- Tertiary bullet – Jordan Spieth finished at even par, while the Pro-Am featuring Kyle Lowry and the outcome of the Creator Classic added some pre-tournament buzz.

LOOKING AHEAD TO ROUND 2

- Lead bullet – A significant weather shift is forecast for Round 2, with rain, colder temperatures, and earlier tee times poised to dramatically alter playing conditions and scoring at Wissahickon.

- Secondary bullet – Expect the historic A.W. Tillinghast design to play significantly longer, with its "juicy" rough becoming a far more penalizing factor for any errant shots.

- Tertiary bullet – Players like Akshay Bhatia, focused on precise approaches, will face an even sterner test on the heavily sloped greens under tougher conditions.

Quick Hits

A • Mitchell's 61! • Fowler Resurgent • McIlroy Preps • Wissahickon's Test • Weather Shift Incoming

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Story-driven, leaderboard-lite—today’s pod zooms in on course prep, candid player takes, and feel-good moments:

• Rory recharged – Post-Grand-Slam exhale, family time, and a driver-heavy attack plan for the “smaller Oak Hill.”
• Strategic split – Justin Thomas pegs Wissahickon a wind-sensitive second-shot test; Xander Schauffele predicts red numbers and shares Champions Dinner menu.
• Spieth’s turn – Grand-Slam pressure shifts to Jordan, who calls Scheffler “clearly better right now” yet loves how the course sets up for him.

• Jason Day out – Neck disc herniation scratches him from Truist and jeopardizes his PGA start; Patrick Rodgers slides in.
• Billy Horschel surgery – Right hip procedure next week, out until late summer; Rico Hoey joins the PGA field.

• Bryson bullish after Korea win.
• DJ invite clarified – PGA of America extends berths to last five Masters winners.

• Byrd & son – Jonathan Byrd fulfills a “bucket-list” dream teeing it up alongside 18-year-old Jackson in his Tour debut.

Adam Scott’s John Daly-inspired takeaway • Pro-Am hero keeps drink intact after being struck • Creator Classic buzz: Paige Spiranac vs. Tyler Toney • Turkish Airlines Open tees off.

All the storylines setting the stage for Quail Hollow—press play and get primed for major week.

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