Keith Mitchell backed up his career-low 61 on Thursday with a composed 3-under 67 in Friday’s rain-soaked second round of the 2025 Truist Championship, maintaining a one-shot lead at 12-under-par heading into the weekend at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course.
Heavy rain and gusty winds made conditions significantly more difficult, but Mitchell remained steady. He credited his course management and short game as keys to navigating the tougher setup.
“I picked good targets today,” Keith Mitchell said. “So when I had some greens that I missed, I was trying to be below the hole or back into the grain. When you do that, you just have a lot better chance of hitting it close.”
Rainy conditions are making things tricky at the #TruistChampionship — wet fairways, slower greens, and unpredictable bounces. Players will need to grind through round two. pic.twitter.com/vbwzLvPvUa
— Double Take Sports (@dbltakesports) May 9, 2025
The second round marked Mitchell’s third career 36-hole lead or co-lead on TOUR—and his first since 2021. He’s looking to convert that position into his second TOUR victory, his first since winning the 2019 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
Despite two bogeys on the round, Mitchell responded to both with birdies, preserving momentum on a day where slipping could come quickly.
“Huge,” Mitchell said of the bounce-backs. “If you get going in the wrong direction with momentum on a day like today, it can really catch you. Hit two really good putts after I made bogeys.”
Through 36 holes, Mitchell leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (5.679), a dramatic improvement over his season average, where he entered the week ranked 104th. His recent form also includes four straight top-20 finishes, giving him confidence as he enters the weekend in contention.
“This is a four-round tournament. They don’t give any points or money out on Thursday,” Mitchell said. “So I’ve got to keep it going.”
A few highlights from Keith Mitchell after maintaining his lead tor two days in a row. What has he learned?
— Double Take Sports (@dbltakesports) May 9, 2025
“That they really don't give any money or points out on Thursday, and you've got to keep it going.”#TruistChampionship #golf pic.twitter.com/LcEUG4ZOA0
Trailing close behind is Shane Lowry at 11-under after a second-round 65. Sepp Straka sits in solo third at 10-under, while a pack of players tied for fourth at 7-under includes Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and Patrick Cantlay.
Mitchell, who received a sponsor exemption to compete this week, is making his 161st career TOUR start. He’ll look to continue building off strong positioning as he prepares for the weekend in pursuit of a long-awaited second PGA TOUR title.