API R2: Jordan Spieth hits DUCK HOOK on 18 but bang in contention at Bay Hill

Jordan Spieth revealed he hit "one of the worst drives" he has ever hit in his career on the 18th hole on a day where he vaulted up the board into second place after 36 holes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

Despite hitting a shocking duck hook off the 18th tee en route to a bogey five, Spieth went on to card a brilliant 3-under 69 in tricky windy conditions at famed Bay Hill.

Spieth moves up to 7-under par in solo second, and just two shots behind Kurt Kitayama, who is going in search of his maiden PGA Tour title despite having won twice on the DP World Tour. 

Earlier this week Spieth became the latest PGA Tour star to admit the threat of the LIV Golf League forced wholesale changes to the North American circuit.

The flat stick is heating up for @JordanSpieth pic.twitter.com/xkOIrlW2nm

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 3, 2023

But on the course, Spieth is going in search of his 14th win of his PGA Tour career and his first since the RBC Heritage last April. 

He went out in 35 thanks to a birdie on the par-5 4th.

Spieth bogeyed the 10th but immediately responded with birdies at the 11th and 12th, before adding another two consecutive birdies at the 16th and 17th.

But his duck hook down 18 led to a second bogey of the day and saw him fall from one behind heading into the weekend to two. 

WATCH SPIETH'S DUCK HOOK DOWN 18: 

"One of the worst drives I've ever hit."

Jordan Spieth talks through his errant swing on No. 18. https://t.co/0zcwHcD5jm pic.twitter.com/2Z54Bm6qiv

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 3, 2023

After the round, Spieth said: 

Kitayama made just one bogey on the day, coming at arguably the easiest hole on the course at the par-5 16th, but he went round in 68 to hit the front on 9-under par. 

The American has never won on the PGA Tour but has finished second before coming at last year's Mexico Open. 

Kitayama, did however, become the fastest golfer to two wins in DP World Tour history when winning the Oman Open in just his 11th career appearance.

He also won the Mauritius Open in December 2018.

Elsewhere in round two, Xander Schauffele (70) and Corey Conners (66) bumped themselves up into contention into a tie for third on 6-under par. 

Conners is looking for his second PGA Tour title having won the 2019 Texas Open, while Schauffele is hoping to pick up an eighth win and first since the 2022 Scottish Open. 

Patrick Cantlay (71), Davis Riley (69), Matt Fitzpatrick (69) and Justin Thomas (67) are also in contention for the title on 5-under par. 

Who wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational at famed Bay Hill this weekend? #PGATOUR

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) March 4, 2023

Overnight leader and World No.1 Jon Rahm had a day to forget with a dismal round of 76 and he finds himself with plenty of work to do at 3-under par. 

That's one shot ahead of Rory McIlroy, who improved on his opening 73 with a second-round 69. 

Elsewhere, Viktor Hovland hit the shot of the day with a hole-in-one on the par-3 7th. 

ACE ALERT

Viktor Hovland cards the fourth ace of his career @APInv pic.twitter.com/Oa2Fr1eIyH

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 3, 2023

"If you're around me and we're at a bar, you can send it on my tab," said Hovland after his round. 

He would, however, bogey two of the last five holes to fall back to 2-under par for the tournament. 

Arnold Palmer Invitational R2 Leaderboard

-9 K Kitayama (US)
-7 J Spieth (US)
-6 X Schauffele (US), C Conners (Can)
-5 J Thomas, D Riley, P Cantlay (US), M Fitzpatrick (Eng)

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