Scheffler, Hovland and Conners share lead at PGA Championship
Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners delivered clutch birdies and grinded out par saves to share the lead after Friday’s second round of the PGA Championship as rivals stumbled at rainy Oak Hill.
Second-ranked American Scheffler, last year’s Masters champion, and Canada’s Conners, chasing his first major title, each fired two-under par 68 to finish 36 holes level at the top on five-under 135. “Felt like I grinded it out pretty well,” Scheffler said. “Didn’t hit as many fairways as I would hope to but to shoot twounder was good, solid golf.”
Conners, who won his second PGA Tour title at last month’s Texas Open, worked magic with his putter when needed.
“Very pleased,” Conners said. “The conditions were tricky out there, faced some wind, some rain. I made a bunch of key putts to keep momentum going, and that was really the key to the day.”
Norway’s 11th-ranked Hovland, also seeking a first major crown, sank a five-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to shoot 67 and make it three at the top.
“The score has been great but the way I’ve plodded my way around here, very pleased with that,” he said. “I was trying to give myself the most stress-free pars and a couple birdie looks as well.”
Bryson Dechambeau, the 2020 US Open champion, closed with a bogey to share fourth with fellow American Justin Suh on 137.
“It has been a few years, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it,” Dechambeau said of winning. “I’m definitely trending in the right direction finally.”
Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka and England’s Callum Tarren were on 138 and England’s Justin Rose and
Canadian Taylor Pendrith on 139 as only nine players stood under par.
Scheffler, who would return to world number one with a victory, had two sets of back-to-back birdies but closed with a bogey.
“I was just trying to grind,” he said. “I’m in a good position going into the weekend.”
Conners consistently made putts from nine to 12 feet for pars and birdies.