It is a deep field with 97 of the world’s top 100 in it and a poor first day is always a big baggage to carry.
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Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship the last time it was at Baltusrol in 2005…
Day is now looking to use his status as golf’s number one to unease his rivals heading into the weekend.
The defending champion rocketed up the leaderboard, shooting a 5-under 65 in the second round Friday with seven birdies in his final 11 holes.
He remains six shots off the pace however from leaders Emiliano Grillo and compatriot Jimmy Walker.
Walker’s year has been so mediocre that he has finished within five shots of the victor only once this year, at Torrey Pines.
SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey Early second-round play in the PGA Championship resumed after a delay of 41 minutes at Baltusrol on Friday with weather threatening to cause further interruptions in the year’s final major championship.
Stenson saved a shaky start in the rain at Baltusrol with a 3-wood that just landed on the front of the green at the par-5 18th and settled 3 feet away for an eagle, turning his fortunes and sending him to a 3-under 67 for the second day in a row.
“I kind of thought I would keep it going”, Streb said, “but it has been tough. I’ll stay as patient as I can, try as hard as I can, and hopefully I will turn this around”. But it was a great round.
“Happy to join the club that seems to be ever growing”, Streb said.
After his win at Royal Troon, Stenson is enjoying plenty of support from the Baltusrol crowd.
“I saw it the other day”, Streb said, referring to the list. “I felt good on the green”.
Not everyone had such a good day, though. Both players are set to miss the cut.
The former world No. 1, now fourth in the rankings, has rarely been in contention this season but was top 10 at the British Open and the Masters as well as two World Golf Championship events.
Suddenly, he was on the verge of a shot at 63 until he hooked his tee shot to the base of the hospitality area on the 17th, and pushed a driving iron into the right rough on the 18th.
A triple bogey in the home stretch spelled doom Friday for Ben Polland, a St. Paul native trying to make his first cut at a major professional golf tournament.
But Day is making things look easy.
The Australian’s round actually didn’t start out well. 12-13 – his third and fourth holes, respectively.
“It was a bit of a mess there”, Day said. “I just didn’t miss many fairways and therefore, you can create some birdie chances. Just kept on setting myself up for opportunities”.
“I know I’m going to sleep for a week after the Ryder Cup, there’s no two ways about that”.
He’s not even sure how he’s doing it. “I think it’s all course condition”, said Walker, who followed his 65 Thursday with a 66. Still, he admitted his sickness is nothing to complain about.
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Andrew Johnston continued to impress in the majors, after finishing tied for eighth at The Open, with a one-under-par 69 to reach halfway at one under.
