The second round of the PGA Championship is now complete. While the initial focus on `mud balls` seemed to dissipate, there was significant movement on the leaderboard, which remains notably varied.
Some of the surprising names near the top after Thursday`s play couldn`t sustain their performance, but 40-year-old Jhonattan Vegas held steady and leads after 36 holes. Perhaps the most significant story is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler`s 3-under round, positioning him strongly for a potential third major championship.
Scheffler reflected on his play, stating, “I think most of me is just glad to be close to the lead. If you`re going to play a 72-hole golf tournament, there`s going to be days and stretches of golf where you`re not swinging it your best… It`s all about how you respond to those. I did a good job of responding to those mistakes today and keeping myself in the tournament.”
Crucially, Scheffler maintains his status as the clear favorite to lift the Wanamaker Trophy.
Here is what to keep an eye on this weekend.
What are Jhonattan Vegas` chances to win from the lead?
Commentators assess Jhonattan Vegas` prospects. His backstory is notable, moving from Venezuela due to political issues to pursue golf in the U.S., eventually playing at the University of Texas and becoming a multiple PGA Tour winner. Despite facing sleep issues and a late double bogey, he holds a two-shot lead. While his putting cooled slightly in the second round after a strong start, his long game remained excellent. One analyst finds it unlikely he will win wire-to-wire.
Another points out that even with the lead, data analytics give him only a moderate chance (around 9.4%), trailing Scottie Scheffler (23.4%). The golfer himself acknowledged his past difficulties in majors but expressed hope this position would be different. Overall sentiment suggests that a Vegas victory, though a compelling story, would be considered highly improbable, perhaps one of the most surprising major wins in recent history.
Which players outside the top 10 could still win?
Several notable players outside the top 10 remain potential winners. One analyst highlights Bryson DeChambeau, currently at 3 under and five shots back. Despite struggles with iron play and chipping, DeChambeau leads the field in driving distance and strokes gained off the tee, maintaining hope for a low weekend round. He acknowledged the challenge of precise iron play but felt a 64 or 65 was possible.
Another analyst points to Jon Rahm, six shots back at 2 under, who has played two quiet but solid rounds. Despite recent discussion about his major performance since the 2023 Masters, Rahm feels his game and confidence are improving, suggesting he could make a strong weekend charge.
How far back can a player be and still contend?
Assessing how far back a player can be and still compete, one view suggests that with a relatively tight leaderboard, even players further down, like those at even par or 1 over, could potentially make a run with exceptionally low scores. However, a more realistic perspective indicates that being 1 under par (seven shots behind the current leader and four behind Scottie Scheffler, considered the likely true contender) might be too large a deficit to overcome effectively.
Who is your pick to win this weekend?
Predicting the winner, one analyst reiterates their pick of Scottie Scheffler. Despite hitting only six fairways in the second round, Scheffler improved in other areas, finishing at 5 under, three shots off the lead. Scheffler expressed satisfaction with his position, feeling he maximized his game and saw his swing improve. The analyst notes that most players ahead of or tied with Scheffler lack major championship wins, suggesting they are unlikely to withstand a charge from the world No. 1, with Matt Fitzpatrick being the only other major winner in the top 10.
Another analyst finds Scheffler`s eventual dominance almost certain but is also drawn to Bryson DeChambeau, who, despite struggles with approach shots, possesses an exceptional driving game that could lead to a breakthrough low round if he finds more fairways.
Who was the biggest disappointment among players who missed the cut?
Discussing the most disappointing missed cuts, one analyst points to Justin Thomas. Having won recently and being a past PGA champion at this course (Quail Hollow), his missing the cut is surprising. Poor driving accuracy and greens in regulation stats contributed to his exit, despite making nine birdies.
Another analyst names Ludvig Åberg. Despite expectations that the course would suit his game, Åberg struggled significantly with both driving and approach shots, ranking low in those categories and missing his second consecutive PGA Championship cut early in his career.
