The spotlight was on Bryson DeChambeau as one of the pre-tournament favorites heading into Friday morning. DeChambeau delivered a solid performance, shooting a 3-under 68, which brought him to -3 for the tournament. However, he still trails the leader, Jhonattan Vegas, by seven strokes. DeChambeau's round began smoothly on the back nine (starting on No. 10), where he secured two birdies at the 10th and 16th holes, along with seven pars. As he transitioned to the front nine, the round took a turbulent turn with two bogeys and three birdies, briefly reaching -4 after a birdie on No. 8, only to finish with a bogey on the challenging 9th hole.
While DeChambeau's round was not dazzling, it was an essential step in positioning himself for a potential weekend surge. Although Vegas has been on fire, running away with the lead, if he falters, DeChambeau finds himself just three strokes behind second place. This gives DeChambeau a robust chance to make a move if he can sharpen his putting skills over the weekend.
After starting with an early bogey, Jhonattan Vegas quickly asserted his dominance again, pushing his lead to four strokes over Matthieu Pavon and Michael Thorbjornsen. A birdie on No. 14 elevated him to -4 for the day and -10 for the championship. Despite a wayward drive on the short par 4, Vegas showcased his skill by managing to recover and secure a birdie, displaying an impressive touch on the greens. This remarkable form on the greens puts him in a favorable position to achieve back-to-back rounds in the 60s at a major for the first time in his career.
With four PGA Tour victories, including last year’s 3M Open, Vegas has yet to crack the top 20 at a major. However, he seems poised to capitalize on his current lead as he navigates the challenging Green Mile before heading into the weekend.
The standout performance of Friday belonged to Max Homa, who shot a remarkable 7-under 64, tying for the lowest round of the tournament. Homa found his rhythm early, making the turn with a dazzling 30 (-6) on the back nine after starting on No. 10. Beginning the day at +2 and eight strokes behind Vegas, Homa concluded the round at -5, placing him four shots back of the leader.
Homa's recent struggles had seen him fall out of the top 50 in the world rankings, but signs of a comeback surfaced during his recent outings, including strong performances at the Masters leading into the PGA Championship. Despite a lackluster opening round of 73, Homa's exceptional play on Friday included birdies on Nos. 10, 13, and 15, as well as an eagle on the par-4 14th hole, where he drove to just two feet. A chip-in on the difficult 18th hole capped off an impressive round, allowing him to post the clubhouse lead early in the day.
In a disappointing turn of events, Justin Thomas will not be competing over the weekend after shooting a second-round 72, bringing his total to +3 for the tournament. Thomas, who aimed for a strong finish to capture a third PGA Championship, began his round positively with two early birdies but faltered with bogeys on the challenging Green Mile, particularly on Nos. 16 and 18. A series of three consecutive bogeys from Nos. 5-7 sealed his fate as he fell well outside the projected cut of +1.
Entering the tournament with high hopes after winning the RBC Heritage and finishing second at the Truist Championship, Thomas's early exit marks a frustrating outcome as he seeks to regain his form.
While the leaderboard saw some surprising movements, only Max Homa made a significant leap into contention. Other notable players, including Bryson DeChambeau, who is currently -2 for the round and the tournament, struggle to find their rhythm. Collin Morikawa briefly climbed to 4 under but has since fallen back to even par, battling to stay above the cut line. Viktor Hovland remains at -2 for the tournament, and both Justin Thomas and Joaquin Niemann are teetering on the cut line at +1.
As the afternoon wave approaches, anticipation builds to see if top players like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, and Rory McIlroy can make a significant impact on the leaderboard as they head into the weekend.
The Green Mile at Quail Hollow is always a focal point, and Friday was no exception. Holes 16 and 17 played slightly easier than on Thursday, but No. 18 proved to be the ultimate test. The front left pin position brought the creek into play, resulting in several players facing treacherous pitches from the false front.
Notably, Tyrrell Hatton, who approached the 18th just one stroke off the lead, found trouble and ended up making a triple bogey. Similarly, Collin Morikawa faced the same fate, leading to a double bogey. In contrast, Homa and Jordan Spieth managed to capitalize on the hole, each scoring birdies and gaining crucial strokes on the field.
Max Homa's performance on Friday morning exceeded expectations. After a challenging first round of 73, Homa entered his second round focused on securing a weekend spot. He shot an impressive 6-under 30 on the back nine, showcasing his skill and resilience. His eagle on the par-4 14th, where he drove the ball to within two feet, and a chip-in birdie on the 18th highlighted a remarkable turnaround.
With this stellar back nine, Homa not only improved his standing but also set himself up for a strong finish if he can maintain his momentum through the front nine. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on him, as he continues to chase down the leaders.
After a disappointing first round of 76, Jordan Spieth made a bold statement by opening his second round with an eagle on the 10th hole. This impressive start moved him to +3, currently tied for 98th place as he aims to make the cut. With the projected cut line at +1, Spieth will need to maintain his focus and gain additional strokes to secure a spot for the weekend.
Following a surprising first round, Tyrrell Hatton is making his presence felt early in the second round. After birdying his first two holes, Hatton climbed to -5, just two strokes behind the leader, Jhonattan Vegas. As he continues to find his rhythm, Hatton represents one of the long shots looking to capitalize on the leaderboard's surprises.
With a mix of established stars and emerging players, the tournament is shaping up to be an exciting weekend as competitors navigate the challenging Quail Hollow course.
