Hao about that?
China’s Li grabs two-stroke lead, Tiger survives
China’s Li Haotong may not have been on anyone’s radar ahead of this week’s PGA Championship but he thrust himself into the mix with a bogeyfree trip around TPC Harding Park to grab the second-round lead at the year’s first Major.
Haotong, whose best finish in 2020 is a share of 18th place at the European Tour’s Oman Open in February, carded a five-under 65 in calm winds to reach eight under for the week, two shots clear of six players including two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka (68).
“I didn’t even think I could play like this this week,” said Haotong, who missed the cut at the Memorial Tournament in July and finished in a share of 75th place at last week’s World Golf Championships event in Memphis.
Haotong, in search of a maiden PGA Tour win, made a fast start to his second round with birdies at three of his first five holes, including a 22-footer at the par-four second, and then added another pair at the ninth and 10th holes.
Koepka was bothered by tightness in his hip that required attention from a trainer but birdied the difficult par-four 18th to finish with a 68 to sit six-under through 36 holes.
The confident Koepka said he liked the position he is in but added that if a few more putts had gone his way he would be well atop the leaderboard.
“I’m pretty happy. I felt like I probably could be ten (under) right now,” he said. “Hit a lot of good putts, just didn’t go in.”
Overnight co-leader Jason Day (69) was tied with Haotong before disaster struck on the par-4 12th when the Australian’s tee-shot found the rough and he missed a putt for a double bogey.
Tiger Woods struggled with the putter in the chilly afternoon conditions as fog poured into the lake side course, causing the greens to slow.
The 15-time Major champion shot a two-over 72 to sit at even par after two rounds as he seeks to win a record-breaking 83rd win on the PGA Tour.
“I really struggled with getting the speed of the greens today,” he said.
“They looked faster than what they were putting.” World number one Justin Thomas, who was grouped with Woods and Rory McIlroy in the windy afternoon, shot an even round to finish on the cut line of one-over while McIlroy overcame a double bogey on the par-four 12th for a 69 to sit one-under headed into the weekend.