Webb Simpson has plenty of hometown knowledge when it comes to playing Quail Hollow Club. He might need every bit of it if he hopes to hold off Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson this weekend.
Simpson chipped in twice for birdie and shot a 5-under 67 for a share of the second-round lead with Robert Streb in the Wells Fargo Championship. Streb had a 69 to match Simpson at 10-under 134.
"Playing here quite often, I know where the best places are to miss (the green)," said Simpson, who lives in Charlotte and has played the course countless times.
Simpson knows it will take a lot more big shots over the weekend to win with some of golf's top names lurking behind him. McIlroy and Mickelson were three shots back. Mickelson had a 66, and McIlroy matched Simpson's 67. Martin Flores and Patrick Rodgers were tied for third at 8 under.
One day after joking that he "turned a 66 into a 71" in the opening round with some missed opportunities, Mickelson got his 66. "Right now nobody is turning 66s into 71s better than me," Mickelson joked, so it's nice to finally shoot that 66 and get the score that reflects the way I feel I'm playing."
McIlroy was on his game, too. The world's top-ranked player said his focus Friday was on eliminating mistakes after an up-and-down 70 the day before. He did just that, posting five birdies and no bogeys. He was never in any real danger of making bogey in what he called a "stress-free round."
"Anytime you can play a round of golf with no bogeys you're doing something right," said McIlroy, who won the 2010 event for his first PGA Tour victory.
The biggest surprise high on the leader board is the 22-year-old Rodgers, a regular on the Web.com Tour who is playing on a sponsor's exemption. He ranks 333rd in the world and has never finished in the top 25 on the PGA Tour.