We might not be playing in the PGA Championship this weekend, but watching 10+ hours of coverage sure beats us up like we’re hitting the shots. Not exactly jealous of those guys out on Kiawah Island.
Friday notes
PGA Championship Round 2 Leaderboard
Closing stretch – Mother Nature threw even more wind at the players at the Ocean Course on Friday. The scoring average jumped to 75.5 in the second round, with most of the damage coming on the back nine. Dead into the fan on Nos. 14-18, players went 2.5 shots over par. Four of those five holes—Nos. 14, 15, 17, and 18—were the toughest four holes on the course. Adding to the difficulty of the par-3 17th hole was a traffic jam that left players waiting more than 15 minutes to hit their tee shots. While the wind is projected to flip directions on Sunday, these final five holes could cause a bloodbath on Saturday. No round is safe until it’s in the clubhouse.
Phil? Phil. – Although he got himself in the top 10 with a 70 on Thursday, we did not mention Phil Mickelson in our newsletter yesterday. Frankly, we didn’t think he’d be around today. Much to our surprise, 50-year-old Phil Mickelson backed up his solid first round with a 69 and jumped to the top of the leaderboard. Lefty has played phenomenal golf tee to green this week, harkening back to his glory days. On Saturday, he’ll play in the final group on the weekend in a major championship for the first time since 2016. Sure, his play has been poor for much of the past year, but who knows? Maybe he can hold on for two more rounds.
Mattress King – Louis Oosthuizen came one burnt edge from a perfect round of golf on Friday. The 2010 Open champion fired a 68 with just one bogey, which came on his final hole. Only Hideki Matsuyama matched him on the day. All areas of Oosty’s game are dialed at the moment. As he’s done his whole career, he’s simply hitting fairways and greens, and working his way up the leaderboard while everyone else falls past him. Given the demands of the Ocean Course, you have to like someone with Oosthuizen’s steady temperament.
Here we go again – Mr. Major Brooks Koepka continues to get the most out of his less-than-healthy knee at Kiawah Island. He bogeyed two of his final four holes but is still within one shot of the lead heading into the weekend. Koepka drove the ball much better than he did on Thursday and continued his strong iron play but was let down by the flatstick. Still, he’s in contention at a major once again. The man is something else on the biggest stages.
Two for two? – Hideki Matsuyama didn’t get off to the best of starts on Thursday but bounced back with a Friday 68. The Masters champion was playing his brand of golf, hitting approaches within 10 feet and smashing drives all while looking at each shot with disgust. Hideki is so strong tee to green that he just needs a few putts to fall for him to remain in contention. Two months ago, he had zero major titles to his name. By the end of this weekend, he just might be halfway to the grand slam.
Quick Hooks
Stacy Lewis, Sei Young Kim, and Jessica Korda are among those stalking the top of the leaderboard at the Pure Silk Championship on the LPGA Tour. Leaderboard
Cameron Young, Vince India, Joey Garber, and Davis Riley are fighting it out at the Korn Ferry Tour’s AdventHealth Championship. A victory for Riley would earn him an automatic promotion to the PGA Tour. Leaderboard
PGA Club Pro Brad Marek has a unique warm-up routine. Lean with it, rock with it, Brad.
Erik van Rooyen will probably be receiving a bill from the PGA to replace the tee marker he obliterated on No. 17 on Friday.
Bryson DeChambeau, following a flubbed chip on the 18th hole on Friday, was caught on a hot mic saying that Kiawah is a “stupid golf course.” K.
Cameron Tringale held a two-shot lead for much of Thursday. On Friday, he shot 82 and missed the cut. The poor guy started his second round -1 through four holes before going triple bogey, quadruple bogey, quintuple bogey, and recording an opening-nine 48. Not great. Still, kudos to Tringale for grinding out a 34 coming home!
Notables who missed the cut at the PGA Championship include Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele (just the second major MC of his career), Sergio García, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, Tommy Fleetwood, and Max Homa.
The Latest from The Fried Egg
Re-Dyeing Kiawah Island – As he researched the history of the Ocean Course, Garrett Morrison began to wonder why we don’t hear more about restoring Pete Dye’s golf courses. He thinks Kiawah could use one.
Shotgun Start: Friday at the PGA Championship with Eamon Lynch
Brendan and Andy are graced by the curmudgeonly Eamon Lynch for this Friday night episode fueled by Smith Devereux wines. They all react to the elderly co-leaders, the Mattress King and Phil Mickelson, as well as some of the uber talents that made late charges up the board in Brooksy and Hideki. Also the Thicc Boi, whose “great drive” ended up in some cabbage. There are check-ins on the course setup and conditioning as well as hopes for the weekend on that front. Lastly, they nominate some most surprising and most disappointing nominees for players who are in it and those who are pouting their way home early from Kiawah. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify.
Pro Shop
Don’t forget, all Ocean Course prints are 20% off through the weekend! Shop the collection today!