An injured Mark Calcavecchia went on a birdie blitz here today to grab a share of the early second-round lead in the 84th PGA Championship with Justin Leonard, Retief Goosen and Rich Beem.
Both players finished the day six-under par and two shots clear of first round leaders Fred Funk and Jim Furyk, who had still to go out.
Calcavecchia made the most of the ideal conditions. Starting the day two-under, he got himself to seven-under before giving a shot back on the final green.
"Not the way you want to finish but I'll take it," said the former British Open champion, who is suffering from a bad back.
"I was exercising a couple of days ago and threw it out. It was a lot better today than yesterday but I still get a twinge if I try to slash out of the rough," he explained.
"I gather there is some weather coming in so I would like to see the flags straighten. I'm sure glad that I'm finished for the day," he added.
When the PGA began, Calcavecchia was not amongst the list of favourites.
"It wasn't looking too good coming in this week. My form was not what you would say was great but I am a streaky player. Also streaky bad.
"I got in on a role today and tried to get even more under but I was not able to do that," said Calcavecchia.
Leonard, also a former British Open champion, had an even more impressive round. The Texan began the day level par and shot a stunning six-under 66.
"It was nice out there this morning. Not much wind and the greens were great," said Leonard. "I think the weather is going to change and we will see the teeth of this course. I am looking forward to it. The tougher the better."
Beem, winner this season of the International, also shot a six-under 66. Playing in only his second PGA, he made the most of a hot putter.
Former US Open winner Goosen looked like dropping a shot on the 18th when he got a flier out of the rough following a wayward drive. His ball shot through the green and settled in the thick rough behind the green but the South African chopped it out and sank it for a birdie.
Pre-championship favourite Tiger Woods, who carded a one-under 71 on yesterday, was still to go out, along with Ernie Els who was level.
But while Woods and Els were preparing to make their charge on the leaders, world number two Phil Mickelson look poised to retain his tag of being the best player never to have won a major.
Mickelson carded a second round 72, but at four-over he was left to hang around to see if he would make the cut, which was expected to be either at three over or four over.
Paul McGinley has yet to get under way from his start position of two-over. Padraig Harrington completed his second round in 73 and giving a shot back to the course left him on level par.
Darren Clarke will have an anxious wait despite carding a two-under 70. The Tyroneman made up ground after yesterday’s 79 but at five-over is a borderline case to make the cut.
AFP