Birdie blitz lifts Lee into contention at PGA Championship

A birdie blitz fired Min Woo Lee into contention at the halfway stage of the US PGA Championship at the Oak Hill Country Club in upstate New York.

Revelling on the big stage after three straight missed cuts, Lee carded a three under par 67, to head up the Australian challenge five shots off the pace in Rochester on Saturday (AEST).

The 24-year-old looked on course for the round of the day after collecting five birdies in his first seven holes before his putter cooled off on a freezing cold day at the season’s second major.

Lee dropped a shot at the brutal par-four sixth – ranking this week as the most difficult major championship hole in the past 20 years – before missing a six-foot birdie attempt at the 13th and three-putting on No.15 for a bogey.

Still, he was pleased to have clawed his way back to even par for the championship, tied for 10th behind joint leaders Viktor Hovland (67), Corey Conners (68) and Scottie Scheffler (68), who are all five under.

“It was really good. It’s been a while since I was really proud of how I handled myself. It was a grind out there,” the West Australian said.

Min Woo Lee in the second round of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.Credit: AP

“There were a lot of par saves that I needed to do just to keep the momentum up. It was very gritty out there, which is something I feel I’ve been lacking a little bit. But it’s kind of nice to do that, especially at a major championship.”

After playing in the final group on Sunday, and ultimately finishing sixth, at the Players Championship, then winning a round at the WGC Match Play to qualify for the US Masters, Lee lost his way.

Doubts crept into his game, so he decided to go back to basics.

“I needed something to switch because I’ve been playing sluggish over the last few weeks, few tournaments,” Lee said. “I don’t know what clicked. I just wanted to stop missing cuts and play well today. I was just really focused on what I needed to do.”

Lee is making a habit of lifting for the majors, tying 14th on debut at Augusta last year and also sharing 21st and 27th spots at the British Open and US Open, respectively.

“I don’t know, I just like playing in front of a lot of people and being in front of a crowd,” he said.

Cam Davis is the next best Australian, six back at one over, after a second-round 70.

Scottie Scheffler on the 18th.Credit: Getty

Adam Scott is a further stroke behind and needs to play catch-up over the weekend to get back into the mix after another rough finish to his round.

Lucas Herbert, the only Australian to par the sixth in round two, rebounded from a first-round 75 with a 69 to make the halfway cut at four over, alongside reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith, who recorded another 72.

But Jason Day and David Micheluzzi, making his major championship debut, missed the cut.

Scheffler is right where he wants to be, sharing the halfway lead with Hovland and Conners.

Not even a last-hole bogey could darken the world No.2’s mood.

“I did a good job of grinding today. I had some nice up-and-downs and kept the course in front of me for the most part,” the American said.

“Didn’t hit as many fairways as I would hope to. Still, to shoot two under, especially on a day where the rough got really wet and it was really tough to play out of, to post a number today was good, solid golf.”

Scheffler, Canadian Conners (68) and Norway’s Hovland (67) enjoy a two-shot buffer over Americans Justin Suh (68) and first-round leader Bryson DeChambeau (71).

Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka (66) is equal sixth with England’s Callum Tarren (67) at two under.

“It’s very challenging, but I feel like on a golf course like this, I’m one swing away from getting everything back together,” Scheffler said.

World No.3 Rory McIlroy is even par, alongside Lee, in pursuit of a third PGA Championship title. World No.1 Jon Rahm is nine shots back after following his 76 in round one with a 68.

AAP

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