It was a wild day at the 97th PGA Championship with record scores, flying clubs and a storm so fierce it forced play to be halted and even took down many of the structures on site including the Golf Channel’s “Live From” set.
So the second round will be completed early Saturday and then the third should get underway about thirty minutes later.
There was plenty of excitement at Whistling Straits long before that nasty weather blew in.
Heroes:
First off who the hell is Hiroshi Iwata and how does he shoot a 63? He’s a 34 year old Japanese golfer that currently stands second on the Japan Golf Tour money list. And how does he tie the record for low round in a major and set a new course record…eight birdies, one eagle and a lone bogey that’s how.
Everyone was waiting for Jordan Spieth to make a move and he did just that. He shot a five under 67 to jump into contention and keep hope alive for the American Slam. No American golfer has won all three American majors in a single season.
Rory McIlroy is still showing some rust even though his ankle looks fine. The good news is that he is still in striking distance and a good Saturday could have him in the middle of it.
Double Aussie’s leading the PGA isn’t a familiar scene but countrymen Jason Day and Matt Jones lead at nine under par. Both have holes remaining in the second round and while Day has contended in a slew of majors this is rare territory for Jones.
Cheers to a bunch of golfers that made significant moves up the leaderboard: Spieth, Justin Rose, Tony Finau, Brendan Steele and George Coetzee who carded a 65.
The Straights course is yielding plenty of low scores and there isn’t anything wrong with that. But at the same time if you get in the wrong spot, one hole can cost you the round.
The PGA Championship online coverage has been great. For those of us unable to park it in front of the TV the online live video is a blessing and the crew has been doing an great job.
Zeroes:
Dustin Johnson should have been thankful that play was stopped while he had four holes left to play. After getting hot with three birdies and a bogey at the turn he then proceeded to lose three strokes to the field with three bogeys in four holes. Mercifully, play was called with him on the fourteenth and the bleeding stopped.
John Daly, the ’91 Champion went out in a blaze of glory with a 10 at the par three seventh hole. Big John put a handful of balls in the lake and then his club joined them. His 82 had him heading out of town looking for his next hustle.
Tiger Woods struggled again and sits two shots off the cut with five holes left to play. Woods sees the writing on the wall and realizes there’s a good chance he may miss the weekend. With that in mind he committed to next week’s Wyndham Championship. He needs the “reps” and a heck of a finish to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs or he’s done for the season on the PGA Tour. He has never missed three straight cuts in a major. He’ll be grinding like hell in the morning.
Plenty of big names are missing the cut: Adam Scott (even with Stevie), seniors Miguel Angel Jimenez and Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Kevin Na and Jimmy Walker.
Phil Mickelson’s struggles continue. He’s one inside the cut line and certainly not out of it but 72-73 isn’t cutting it but Phi got his own thrill making like a kid, sliding down one of the Straits many hills. Go Phil!
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