Sei Young Kim leads in Shanghai after 10 under

2021 PGA Championship, Round 2 Top 10 win probabilities: 1. Louis Oosthuizen (T1, -5, 19.4%) 2. Brooks Koepka (3, -4, 11.2%) 3. Hideki Matsuyama (T4, -3, 9.9%) 4. Phil Mickelson (T1, -5, 8.0%) 5. Corey Conners (T7, -2, 4.9%) 6. Bryson DeChambeau (T12, -1, 4.7%) 7. Paul Casey (T7, -2, 3.9%) 8. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (T4, -3, 3.4%) 9. Sungjae Im (T7, -2, 3.4%) 10. Joaquin Niemann (T12, -1, 3.0%) Top Strokes-Gained Performers from Round 2: Putting: Brian Gay +4.1 Around the Green: Tyrrell Hatton +4.2 Approach the Green: Antoine Rozner +5.0 Off-the-tee: Joaquin Niemann +2.3 Total: Louis Oosthuizen +7.5 NOTE: These reports are based off of the live predictive model run by @DataGolf. The model provides live “Make Cut”, “Top 20”, “Top 5”, and “Win” probabilities every 5 minutes from the opening tee shot to the final putt of every PGA TOUR event. Briefly, the model takes account of the current form of each golfer as well as the difficulty of their remaining holes, and probabilities are calculated from 20K simulations. To follow live finish probabilities throughout the remainder of the PGA Championship, or to see how each golfer’s probabilities have evolved from the start of the event to the current time, click here for the model’s home page.

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TaylorMade’s new M5 and M6 game-improvement irons are built with a structural beam that connects the topline and the sole of the back cavities – the company calls this a “Speed Bridge.� This mass behind the center of the face works to stabilize the iron, dampen vibrations for better sound and feel, and allows the thru-slot Speed Pockets to be built more flexible than ever, according to TaylorMade. The re-designed, more-flexible Speed Pocket in the 4-7 irons helps to maximize carry and distance, especially lower on the face, by shifting the “point of maximum deflection� downward, says TaylorMade. The company also implements its familiar ICT (inverted cone technology) to maximize ball speeds on off-center strikes in certain areas.  For golfers, that means higher ball speeds and higher launch angles when hit in a larger impact area than previous M3 and M4 irons, a combination that is beneficial for game-improvement golfers for which these new M5 and M6 irons are designed. Additionally, the M5 and M6 irons use a material called Hybrar, and multi-material badges in their cavities, in order to further reduce vibrations to enhance sound and feel, according to the company. The more compact M5 irons, designed for the “mid-handicapper,� have a 180-degree fluted hosel – this means the hosel technology isn’t visible at address in most positions. They also have Tungsten weights in the toe are of the 4-7 irons to lower center of gravity (CG) to increase launch and add forgiveness, according to TaylorMade. TaylorMade’s M5 irons (4-PW, AW, SW) come stock with True Temper’s XP100 steel shafts, or Mitsubishi’s Tensei Orange graphite shafts, and other shafts are available at no-upcharge. They’re available for pre-order on January 18 and hit retail on February 1. They will sell for $999 steel and $1,199 graphite. The M6 irons, designed for “mid-to-high handicaps,� have a 360-degree fluted hosel, which lowers CG compared to the M5 for a higher launch and more forgiveness, according to TaylorMade. TaylorMade’s M6 irons (4-PW, AW) come stock with KBS Max 85 steel shafts, or Fujikura’s Atmos Orange graphite shafts. They will be available for pre-order on January 18, and they hit retail on February 1. They will sell for $899 steel and $999 graphite.

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Golf’s playoffs sit at a different time, with two majors still looming beyond this three-week push for a champion. So where does everything stand? Is Tiger in it to win it? Is Brooks Koepka going to be one-and-done? We go through all the scenarios.

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