Johnson is back at Whistling Straits five years after he accidentally grounded his club in an unranked bunker on the 72nd hole of the PGA Championship, missing out on a chance for his first major title.
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Johnson is in the lead to enter Friday’s second round after posting a 6-under 66 on Thursday.
David Lingmerth of Sweden made only four pars in his wild round of 70 and was the clubhouse leader at 7-under 137. That sets him up to miss the cut in three straight majors for the first time in his career.
“This year I’ve done a better job of when I take time off, when you limit the practice coming back, how to prepare”.
Rory McIlroy watches his drive on the 12th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship.
Harrington was one under par for his second round but a 76 on Thursday meant he was always facing an uphill battle.
Russell Henley, Mat Kuchar, Harris English, Jason Day, Danny Lee, Matt Jones all shot 68 on the first day, trying them for third, two shots behind the leader. McIlroy previously was injured while playing soccer earlier in the summer and he said that he was able to play a full slate of golf over four days and did not need a golf cart.
“There was [weather] trouble lurking there for a second, and then right around the 15th hole, the horn blew and I was kind of glad that we’re in”, Day said.
“Under par was a good round this afternoon”, Spieth said.
He was in the lead Thursday after the opening round of the PGA Championship, a spot he already has occupied after five rounds this year in the majors – just not when the trophy is handed out.
Iwata, who racked up eight birdies, an eagle at the par-five 11th and a bogey, became the 25th player to shoot a 63 at a major as he vaulted within three shots of the lead. “I struck the ball well today so I was very pleased”.
Watson knows that hitting fairways is important this week, but he also understands that with his style of play he’s going to have to hit plenty of shots out of the rough.
Also making early moves on Friday were Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, two under after 10 holes to trail Lingmerth by four, and Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge, three under for the day after 10 holes to get to three under overall.
“I felt like I played better than what the score reflected”. He made bogey, and the two-shot penalty knocked him out of a playoff won by Martin Kaymer.
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“Today was pretty easy, I have to say”, he said afterward.
