Min Woo Lee stars amongst Australasians on day two at PGA
Min Woo Lee – just five off the lead after second round of 67 – image file photo Australian Golf Media
Min Woo Lee was the Australasian star on day two of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, his round of 67 bettered only by Brooks Koepka’s round of 66 and after an opening round of 73 he now finds himself just five off the 36 hole lead at even par and tied for 10th.
The leaders at 5 under par are American Scottie Scheffler, Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Canadian Corey Conners.
Playing in conditions that definitely favoured the afternoon field on day two as the morning winds died to just a gentle zephyr, Lee took full advantage with a dream start that included four birdies in his first five holes.
After a run which had included three consecutive missed cuts in his last three starts, it was a welcome return for the 24 year old.
“It’s been a while since I was actually really, really proud of myself and the way I handled myself,” said Lee.
“It was a grind out there. There was a lot of par saves that I needed to do just to keep the momentum up, and I did that, and it was really fun. Very gritty out there, which is something that I feel like I’ve been lacking a little bit. It’s kind of nice to just do that, especially at a major championship.
“I mean, I needed something to switch because I feel like I’ve just been playing a little sluggish over the last few weeks a few tournaments. I don’t know what clicked, but I think I just got over it, and I just didn’t like missing cuts and just wanted to play really good today.
“I’m really proud of the way I went. I think just very focused on what I needed to do. A lot of doubt has kind of come into my game. I’ve been switching clubs and switching balls and hitting too much spin and stuff like that. Yeah, it was nice to just — at the end of the day, if you put a good swing on it, hopefully the shot goes nicely. I think that was the mindset today.”
Cameron Davis and Ryan Fox are the next best of the down under brigade, both players tied at 1 over par and in a share of 19th place.
Davis had opened with a round of 71 but by the turn today he was at 3 over for the event and needing a solid back nine to ensure he would be around for the weekend and inside the likely cut line of 5 over. The conditions for the morning field were demanding with strong breezes buffeting the Oak Hill layout but birdies at his 13th, 14th and 15th holes had him at even par before a bogey at his 17th hole saw him finish with 70.
Cam Davis – inside the top twenty at the halfway mark – image PGA of America
Fox had impressed on day one with a round of 68 but he turned in 37 today and added another bogey at his 13th hole for a round of 73 and a 1 over par total.
Adam Scott had also started with a round of 68 on Thursday which included a gut-wrenching double at his final hole and once again it would be the final stretch that would prove costly for Scott.
After making the turn in even par 35, Scott was still 2 under for the tournament with just four holes to play but four dropped shots to finish with a round of 74 may well prove the difference between contending for the title and finishing midfield.
One can only imagine just how agonising his disastrous finishes on both day one and two mean to the 42 year old.
Adam Scott – another horror finish proves costly – image PGA of America
Lucas Herbert put together a strong back nine to finish with 69 and at 4 over he is one shot inside the cutline and has work this weekend.
Cameron Smith rode the roller coaster to the turn with two birdies, two bogies and a double bogey but managed to steady the ship on the way home for a second consecutive round of 72 and a total of 4 over.
Jason Day fought his way back from 8 over with three birdies in his back nine to be on the cutline playing the 16th, but a very short missed par putt there and a double bogey at the 17th would see him him miss his second cut in three starts with his win in Dallas sandwiched between.
David Micheluzzi and Steve Alker also missed the cut, Alker improving his opening round of 89 by eight shots and perhaps have him in better heart for his defence of the Senior PGA Championship next week.
