McDowell, Kuchar loom behind leaders

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- These are the other guys. The ones who didn't draw the huge galleries, the ones who weren't quite as swarmed by media attention.

They're the ones who are quietly positioning themselves for what's starting to look like an epic weekend battle for the 2015 RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

It's pretty hard to fly under the radar as a first-round leader, but that's exactly what 2013 Heritage champ Graeme McDowell did on Friday, finishing 2-under for the day and 7-under for the tournament. That total was good enough to land him in a tie for fourth place. The 2010 U.S. Open champion said the course was conducive to putting up a good score Friday, but felt he didn't take full advantage.

"I felt the opportunity was there to go low this morning, and it just didn't quite happen for me," McDowell said. "But a couple of birdies to finish and I'm right where I want to be."

The last two Heritage champions sit tied for second and tied for fourth, respectively, after two rounds, indicative of a crowded leaderboard full of players with plenty of pedigree. And then, of course, there is the force of nature that is Jordan Spieth, who stunned the supportive crowds and the rest of the field with a 9-under round. The 21-year-old's surge and the presence of other big names in the top 10 is a bonus for the Heritage, said McDowell.

"The atmosphere was pretty good out there," McDowell said. "I was aware that (Kuchar) was going well in front. I wasn't aware that Jordan (Spieth) was shooting 9-under, to be honest. I thought Jordan was certainly under par, but when I saw 62 on the leaderboard, I thought, 'Wow.'"

Morgan Hoffmann (6-under) has played this course a few dozen times, so surely he's seen before what happened to him on No. 18 at Harbour Town Golf Links. His second shot sailed left, hitting the crown of the green before bouncing into the rough.

The former IJGA product put together three straight birdies to start his day and at various points peaked at 7-under before settling in a tie for seventh place after two rounds of play. That 18th hole was one of his toughest of the day, and only his second bogey Friday.

"I guess a wind gust came up, and I got into going at a lot of pins," Hoffmann said of his wayward second shot on the course's signature hole. "I guess that's my mistake out there, and I just wanted to go at that one and get another birdie.

Then there's Thursday's other co-leader, Matt Every, who held steady with a 1-under round to finish at 6-under after 36 holes. Every bogeyed No. 8 and No. 9, but managed to birdie 18 to set things right.

"I got a mud ball, cost me a shot," Every said. "But I've gotten a ton of good breaks the day before. So I was kind of owed a few, I guess."

Louis Oosthuizen, winner of the 2010 Open Championship, quietly put together a solid performance Friday. He bogeyed his first hole at No. 10, but slowly worked his way back to 4-under after a birdie at No. 18. It was his eagle on the par-5 second hole that launched him up the leaderboard.

"I made a really good tee shot," Oosthuizen said. "Hit a seven iron in there, and I hit it to 10 feet and probably left myself with the easiest putt just right off."

A clutter at the top should make for a memorable Saturday.

"It's great to see a packed, quality leaderboard to really do this tournament justice," McDowell said.

This article was written by Kendall Salter from The Island Packet Online and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.