Scheffler tied for lead in PGA as O ak Hill delivers new challenge

PITTSFORD: Sweaters one day, umbrellas the next. No one is sure what to expect at this PGA Championship except that Scotie Scheffler is locked in at another major and Oak Hill is a mighty test.

Scheffler delivered a mix of birdies and great recoveries from wet, nasty rough Friday until he couldn’t escape one last errant tee shot on the 18th that cost him the lead, but certainly did litle to dim his optimism.

Rain is in the forecast for Saturday, probably not enough to douse the anticipation of Bryson Dec ham be au and brookskoe pk a playing together. They were antagonists two years ago - remember the “Brooksy” chants directed at Dechambeau - a relationship somewhat mended through their time in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League.

That feels like long a long time ago, and both have a major on their minds. Dechambeau salvaged a 71 and was two behind; Koepka shot 66 and was three back.

Conners dropped only one shot on the brutal closing stretch on the back nine and posted a 68. Hovland had only one bogey in his round of 67.

They were at 5-under 135, with more variety on the horizon. Rain was in the forecast for Saturday, wind on Sunday, and 18 players were separated by five shots.

There were a few late charges to move into contention (Koepka with a 31 on the back nine), to keep hopes alive (Rory Mcilroy with a 69) or simply to make the cut (Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas).

For now, Scheffler is the target as a Masters champion a year ago and a player who has not finished worse than 12th all year.

Hovland, who shared the 54-hole lead at St. Andrews last summer, is geting used to this, too. He dropped only one shot early in his round of 67, and closed with a 7-iron out of wet, thick rough to 5 feet for birdie. It was his 10th consecutive round in the majors when he ended the day among the top 10 on the leaderboard.

Conners had a 68, at one point building a twoshot lead until he had to rely on his short game to account for some errant drives and tough holes on the front nine. They were two shots clear of Dechambeau and Justin Suh (68).

The leading seven players came from the same side of the draw. They were delayed by two hours from freezing temperatures and a coat of frost on the grass. They avoided the wind Friday morning, and then passing showers took some of fire out of Oak Hill.