JB Holmes fired a two-under par 68 to cling to a one-shot lead after the second round of the US$7.5 million PGA Championship on Friday.
The 26-year-old US golfer rolled in five birdies and 10 pars on an increasingly difficult Oakland Hills Country Club course to reach one-under 139.
“I hit the ball really well today,” Holmes said. “I don’t feel real lucky. I am glad I got in with a 68.”
PHOTO: AP
England’s Justin Rose birdied two of his first six holes and then added another pair of birdies on the back nine to post a 67 on Friday. He is tied in second with the US’ Ben Curtis (67) and Charlie Wi, who shot his second straight 70.
Oakland Hills proved to be a tough test for the second consecutive round as the greens firmed and dried out on a windswept day at the Detroit-area par-70 course.
Only a handful of players shot under par on Friday and Holmes is the lone player on the 36-hole leaderboard at under par after a diabolical second round that left many players shaking their heads as they cleaned out their lockers.
“The golf course is just so nasty right now,” said Rocco Mediate, who barely made the cut after a 74. “The pins are really tough to get to, the wind is blowing and the greens are cooking — drying out.”
Henrik Stenson of Sweden and US player David Toms are two strokes adrift of Holmes, while Sergio Garcia is tied with six others at two-over 142.
Garcia would have been right up there with the leaders but he four-putted on the 17th hole to finish with a 73. It was the first time Garcia had four-putted in a major championship.
Holmes is rebounding into form nicely after missing four of his last six cuts on the PGA Tour. He posted three-straight birdies beginning at the 12th hole but then fell back into the pack with bogeys on the 15th and 17th.
“I saw the pin on 13 and I knew 12 and 13 would be birdie holes,” said Holmes, who is known for his compact swing and long drives.
“I hit some good shots on those holes and made birdie. After my third birdie, the next four holes were into the wind and I was just trying to make par on those holes,” he said.
Holmes started the day three shots behind first round co-leaders Jeev Milkha Singh and Robert Karlsson of Sweden after shooting an opening-round 71. Holmes is looking for his third win on the USPGA Tour after winning the FBR Open twice in 2006 and this year.
Vijay Singh missed the cut after making double bogey on the ninth hole en route to a 76. Other notables who did not make the cut include Adam Scott, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, K.J. Choi and Colin Montgomerie.
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