SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (AP) The PGA Championship was halted because of thunderstorms Saturday, raising the possibility of a third straight Monday finish in a major at Baltusrol.
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And if Mickelson stands any chance of winning this tournament, he’s going to need one of those record rounds Sunday, as he now sits seven shots behind co-leaders Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb (9-under).
Persistent heavy rain then left parts of the course flooded before play was finally abandoned for the day shortly before 6pm local time, with a resumption set for 7am on Sunday.
American Kevin Kisner birdied three of the last four holes for a 65 to grab the clubhouse lead and share sixth overall at five-under 205 with 37 of 86 players able to finish before the storm.
He was one shot ahead of Padraig Harrington, who also had a 65.
“The next 36 holes there’s lots ot play for, building form for the Olympics is another thing”, Harrington said following his second-round level-par 70 on Friday night.
Mickelson, who won the 2005 PGA Championship in the last major contested at Baltusrol with a four-under total, said showers had changed the character of the course. “So I just try to inch my way back into the tournament that way”. “I started to hit it kind of solid, feeling a little bit like my golf swing again and obviously made a bunch of putts”.
Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson had moved into the group at three under, one behind Spieth, but Martin Kaymer and Open champion Henrik Stenson were heading in the wrong direction. “I’m sure I’m missing out on one or two”.
“It was one of the tightest cuts I’ve seen, incredibly close, but I was very happy to be out here today and made the most of it, which was fun”, Rose added.
Streb became the 28th player to shoot a 63 in a major, according to The Associated Press, and he’s the third in the last six days. Hit the right shots at the right time, and any of the shots that I didn’t hit well didn’t do me any harm.
“If you do get momentum in the early holes you feel good and feel there are opportunities to make birdies”. “It’s nice when you score better than you play”. You can make a lot of putts.
“Tee to green was good, but it was just pathetic when I got onto the green”, said McIlroy.
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“I don’t know how to explain the incredible feeling it is to play here in this area”, Mickelson said, “to have the people be as supportive and as kind and loyal as they’ve ben to me and my family over the years. That’s the nature of the game”. “I think there’s a 61 or 62 out there because it’s par 70, the greens are pristine – they’re rolling beautifully – and they’re soft”. I think if you had to given anyone else in this field my tee shots this week, they would have been up near the top of the leaderboard.
