Spieth salvages a 72 at PGA as Grand Slam pursuit begins

Spieth salvages a 72 at PGA as Grand Slam pursuit begins

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jordan Spieth felt he was on the verge of shooting himself out of the PGA Championship.

At that point, he looked a lot closer to a weekend off than the final leg of the career Grand Slam.

When the green cleared, he ripped a hybrid from 246 yards over the water and onto the green, where it settled 30 feet away on the fringe to set up a two-putt birdie.

A solid par on his last hole allowed Spieth to escape with a 72.

Spieth was concerned going into the week about his driver, especially with a 7,600-yard course and turf that had been soft because of rain.

Spieth looked like he had the greens mastered early on, particular on the 12th hole when his wedge went to the top shelf of the green and the pin was at bottom, some 70 feet away.

Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open two years ago, and then added the British Open last month.