PGA Championship report: Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland in leading trio on day two
It’s difficult to keep up with all the action at Oak Hill – so we’ll keep you up to speed with what you may have missed in our daily PGA Championship Report.
PGA Championship Day 2 Report
After the weather delay to the first round, some players were required to complete a few extra holes before getting their second rounds underway.
Bryson DeChambeau held the first-round lead after a 66 at Oak Hill on Thursday, but how did everyone fare on Friday in New York?
So what happened?
A strong group of players emerged from the chasing pack to reach the top of the leaderboard in the second round, one of them being none other than Scottie Scheffler.
The formidable America, who already has wins at Phoenix and Sawgrass this season, made four birdies and two bogeys to card a solid 68, reaching 5-under for the week.
Is the Texan on course for a second major title? Once again, Viktor Hovland could have a say in the proceedings as he joined Scheffler at the top of the pile.
The young Norwegian birdied the final hole to reach 5-under too. He knocked on the door of victory in the final round of the Masters this year.
So far, his closest tilt at a major title came at last year’s Open Championship when he came tied for fourth at St Andrews.
Canadian Corey Conners has enjoyed a welcome return to form in Rochester, carding a 67 and 68 like his fellow co-leaders to take a strong challenge into what could be a wet moving day.
DeChambeau couldn’t quite produce the heroics of round one, but a respectable 1-over 71 keeps him in the hunt just two shots behind the leading trio.
His LIV Golf colleague and former verbal sparring partner Brooks Koepka has also remained in the fray, looking for a third Wanamaker trophy.
After a tame 72 to start the week, the 33-year-old battled back with five birdies on the back nine earlier today to reach 2-under.
He has certainly carried over the form from Augusta National that saw him finish tied second behind Jon Rahm.
The much-fancied Justin Rose might regret back-to-back bogeys on holes 6 and 7 to fall back to 1-under for the week. Nonetheless, he remains fancied to become the first English winner of the PGA since 1919.
After sticking it out to card 1-over in round one, Rory McIlroy crept into the top ten with a subsequent 69. He is just five shots behind with plenty of golf to play.
World No.1 Rahm was staring down the barrel of a missed cut after a first-round 76, but a 2-under 68 saw him edge into the weekend on 4-over.
Who was the best PGA professional?
Two words: Michael Block.
With two rounds of 70, not only did this PGA professional make the cut, he is just five shots adrift heading into the weekend at Oak Hill.
The Californian club pro, who charges $125 per lesson, shanked his tee shot on the par 3 5th hole, but this didn’t stop him from finishing level-par for the event after 36 holes.
“I just kept playing golf, kept my head down, had fun with my caddie, had a good time with the players,” he said. “Taylor and Hayden were absolutely fantastic, along with their caddies.
“The grouping was perfect for me as a club professional. No pressure. Had a great time, and the course sets up for me nicely.”
Who missed the cut at the PGA Championship?
Those who finished on 5-over were the last players to make the cut. So, Jordan Spieth, Yannik Paul, Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson, Tony Finau, and Tyrrell Hatton call all thank their lucky stars.
However, reigning US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick won’t feature at the weekend despite carding a second-round 70. His first score of 76 ultimately did the damage.
It seemed Tom Kim couldn’t put his mud-splattered memories out of his mind on Friday. The young South Korean finished on 8-over, as did AT&T Byron Nelson winner Jason Day.
Despite winning twice in the LIV Golf League in 2023, Talor Gooch couldn’t keep up his hot streak with rounds of 76 and 74.
Rules are rules!
It wouldn’t be a major championship without a significant rules breach, would it?
Cameron Young was the culprit on this occasion. The PGA Tour star forgot to put his ball back in the correct place on the 16th green, resulting in a two-shot penalty.
Read more about it here!
Shot of the day?
This was Nick Taylor holing a 67-foot MONSTER on the par 5 4th hole – measuring 625 yards.
Best stat of the day?
Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have been two of the most outstanding players of the last 15 years – and stats like this make this no surprise…
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
