Emergency 9: PGA Championship, Round 2

Here are nine tidbits from the incomplete second round of the 100th PGA Championship gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis plays 7,316 yards to par-70. Pain or Gain These were the top-10 selected golfers (plus one) in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO: Play was initially suspended at 3:35 p.m. local time and then for the day altogether at 6:35 p.m. The players will be back in place Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m. to complete Round 2. Playing in threesomes off two tees, Round 3 will commence 30 minutes after the conclusion of the completion of Round 2. Here’s what we know: Good Night’s Sleep Part II Gary Woodland had never led after any round in a major championship but gamers couldn’t tell by his performance in the morning wave of Round 2. He backed up 64 from Round 1 with 66 in Round 2 and has a one-shot lead over Kevin Kisner on 10 under par. After making a career-best 152 feet of putts Thursday his putter naturally cooled in Round 2. His ball-striking picked up as he circled four birdies and an eagle against two bogeys for a very solid loop. His best finish in a major is T12 so there are plenty of goals yet to attain this week. People’s Choice Justin Thomas was the No. 1 choice in both PGA TOUR Fantasy formats this week as he looks to join his playing partners this week with at least two wins at the final major of the season. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have six titles between them and Woods is the only player to successfully defend. He’s currently 1 under and bogey free on his second round thru seven holes and 2 under for the week. He’s hardly out of it. Amber Wave of Pain For the second round running, Bellerive Country Club was ripped to pieces by the best in the business. The PGA Championship record was equaled TWICE in the morning wave as Brooks Koepka and Charl Schwartzel added their name to the event’s history book. It’s the first time that two players have posted 63 at the PGA Championship since 1980 at Baltusrol. Tom Weiskopf and Jack Nicklaus were the record-setters that year. The morning wave also conceded NINE rounds of 65 or better, the best since 1983 at Riviera. Now with more rain on the course I can’t imagine scores getting higher tomorrow. Big-Game Hunter Not only did Brooks Koepka’s 63 move him up 30 spots to solo third, it was also bogey-free. The two-time and reigning U.S. Open champ hasn’t made a bogey in his first two rounds as his only blemish was a double in Round 1 on Hole No. 5. He’s played his last 26 holes in 10 under so I think he’s figured it out. Finding 23 of 28 fairways and 29 of 36 greens should provide all the clues necessary as to why he’s in contention. The last player to win the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship was Woods in 2000. South African Second Home Gary Player won the career grand slam at Bellerive in the U.S. Open in 1965. Nick Price, born in South Africa, won the 1992 PGA Championship on this track. Charl Schwartzel matched Koepka’s 63 and puts his name into the PGA Championship record book. Gamers who paid attention last week will tell you he closed with that same score at the South Course last Sunday. His last three rounds (63-70-63) include 19 birdies, 12 this week, and an eagle. Alarmed Rory McIlroy will have 11 holes, including two par-5 chances, to secure his place in the second half of Saturday. With a strain in his forearm lingering he’s been quiet in conditions that gamers thought he would destroy. He’s also thru seven holes (playing with Woods and Thomas) but is yet to circle a birdie and sits T64 (E). After just two birdies were wiped out by two bogeys in Round 1, EVERYONE is waiting for his fuse to light. His record on long, wet courses is immense and here’s to hoping it continues tomorrow! MC HOF Every major there is always plenty of top-ranked golfers that are heading home early. As it stands Friday evening, these top players are not going to be around for the final two rounds unless something changes drastically Saturday morning: No. 12 Patrick Reed (+3) No. 14 Bubba Watson (+8) No. 15 Paul Casey (+8) No. 17 Henrik Stenson (+4 thru 9) No. 23 Sergio Garcia (+1) No. 26 Kyle Stanley (+1) No. 28 Matt Kuchar (+1) Study Hall The Round 1 scoring average was 71.378 (+1.378) as the AM/PM splits were almost identical. The scoring average in Round 2 at the time of the suspension of play was 69.685 (-0.315). … There were five bogey-free rounds from the morning wave as Thomas Pieters (-7), Jon Rahm (-5), Jordan Spieth (-3) and Russell Henley (-1) kept their cards clean.  … The only PGA Professional that looks on track to make the cut is Ben Kern (E), unless the line moves Saturday morning.

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