Europeans in the Sunday mix at PGA Championship
With names like Woodland, Woods and Brooks topping the leaderboard at the Bellerive Country Club in St Louis, the halfway stage of the 100th PGA Championship (9-12 August) sounded more like a nature trail than the prestigious last Major of the season. America’s Gary Woodland had led the championship from day one after opening with a blistering 6-under par, 64 to which he added a 66 to get to 10-under. His tally of 130 creates a new 36-hole record for the PGA Championship. Former World Number One Tiger Woods got off to a great start on Friday with some early birdies to get himself into contention. Reigning US Open Champion Brooks Koepka then crafted a splendid record-equalling 63 for third position. There appeared to be no stopping the Americans. But Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters Champion from South Africa, had other ideas. He too shot a scintillating 63. It’s the first time in PGA Championship history that two players have made 63s on the same day.
American Kevin Kisner, who was a sensation at The Open at Carnoustie in July where he finished tie-second, opened with a birdie on his first hole (no. 10) on Friday and then just kept going. He signed for a 64, one shot behind the leaders, at that point. Between them Woodland and Kisner produced 22 birdies in two days.
With 78 players still out on the course, play was then suspended due to rain and “dangerous weather” which meant that the second round had to be resumed on Saturday morning. Woodland remained the halfway leader.
So who do you guess has the honour of teeing-off last in the final match as leader of the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club on Sunday morning?
Brooks Koepka will have that honour. After shooting a super 66 on Saturday, he has taken the outright lead on 12-under par, two ahead of Australian Adam Scott. The 28-year old from Florida is looking to bag his third Major, in fact his second Major this season.
Interesting to see that the leader has emerged from the dream opening match which comprised the first three Major winners of this season: Masters Champion Patrick Reed and US Open Champion Brooks Koepka from America, and freshly-crowned Open Champion Francesco Molinari (Italy).
There are a number of Europeans right there in the mix at Bellerive on Sunday among them Jon Rahm and Rafa Cabrera Bello from Spain; Shane Lowry (Ireland) and Thomas Pieters (Belgium).
Enjoy watching a great Sunday of golf in St Louis!
Wendy Hoad
PICTURED: American Bubba Watson – always one to thrill the crowds in a Major.