The first two rounds of the PGA Championship are handing the Pros scorecards full of reds. Rain has made for extremely soft conditions and the players at Oak Hill are taking full advantage. With current leader Jason Dufner just narrowly missing history yesterday, tying the world record of 63 in a major round.
While most players are enjoying the spoils of the rain in Rochester, some of the big names are struggling to find their footing on the course.
Tiger Woods ended the second round at an even par 70, putting his halfway score to 1-over. With so many players on fire and putting numerous birdies, the Nike player is realistic about his chances of success this weekend.
“I'm so far back that if the leaders go ahead and run off with it and shoot a low one tomorrow, I'm going to be pretty far behind,” said Woods. “I've got to do my job tomorrow and go out there and post something in the mid-to-low 60s, like some of the guys did today. It definitely can be done.”
Phil Mickelson is also fighting to find the stellar form he was showing last month at both the Scottish Open and the Open Championship.
“I struggled these first two days for sure,” said the Callaway player. “It's just a little bit off. I feel it can turn around in a second. But I struggled on the greens. I was over-reading most every putt. And I really struggled fading the ball. Consequently, I had trouble getting the ball working to the left pins and left myself a lot of long putts.”
If Woods and Mickelson have any chance of being in the thick of it come Sunday they need to up their game in the third round and produce seriously low scores in the final two days. But even this might not be enough to win if players like
Adam Scott and
Justin Rose continue to build upon already brilliant performances.
