CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jonattan Vegas was first in the majors ahead and didn’t return to the PGA Championship, filled with dramas other than the top of the leaderboard on Friday.
It was Scotty Schaeffler who is a big looming in the eclectic mix of his competitors, but still has no full control of his game, but he only got three shots back over the weekend.
Vegas cruised the back nine with the Magui Quail Hollow, missing a 3-foot putt at 18 and finished a great day with an even par 70 double bogey, giving him a two-shot lead.
“It’s not easy for you to lead the majors and play with the lead,” Vegas said. “That’s why I’m proud of a solid round today.”
He was at 8 under 134 ahead of France’s Matieu Pabon (65), former US Open champions Matt Fitzpatrick (68) and Siu Wu Kim.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele spent a stressful afternoon expanding his streak by cutting to 64, the longest on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods set a record in the 142 tournament 20 years ago.
Rory McIlroy was another day away from Tee, but perhaps one of the reasons he hit only 10 of his 28 fairways in two rounds came from news that developed into the late afternoon. SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio first reported that his driver was tested and deemed unsuitable to play under USGA regulations.
The test was Tuesday and McIlroy had to find a new driver to play. For the second day in a row, the latest members of the Masters Champion and Career Grand Slam Club refused to speak to the media.
McIlroy missed a 3-foot par putt on the 17th, wrapped it around the left and right of a stream near the hospitality tent, but was fortunate enough to return to the thick grass on the right of the creek. He had to putts for a bogey from 69 to 35 feet.
The Grand Slam Club is likely to remain the remaining six members of the year. The Jordans piece revolved at 68, but missed a cut on one shot and stepped into getting all the majors.
Phil Mickelson was able to win the US Open for his career grand slam at the age of 54. He certainly didn’t see a role when he got out of the bunker on No. 12 and got caught up with a four-fold bogey 8 and swiped the ball four times. He made seven birdies in 72 rounds.
Now it’s around 36 holes chasing the 27-pound Wannamaker Trophy. This may feel like many players in the mix are putting much pressure on even heavier players.
It started in Vegas and its career has been slowing down in recent years due to shoulder injuries. He got back on track with a victory in Minnesota last year. Still, he never finished in the top 20 in the major championship.
Pabon played in the final group at the US Open last year. Fitzpatrick has managed to get the toughest test in golf at Brookline three years ago, and is out of the stretch of bad plays.
Dozens of other people are relatively new to all of this. Schaeffler is not in it.
For the second day in a row, it took a while for the world’s No. 1 player to feel satisfied with his swing. Meanwhile, he rarely left his position and continued to approach. He dropped only one shot and responded with two straight birdies to a 68 back nine.
That leaves Schaeffler with a 5-under 137 along with Max Homa, who has struggled with his game everywhere except for the majors. He tied for 12th place in the Masters, and Homa shot 64 with the Quazur Hollow.
“I like the position I go on weekends,” Schaeffler said. “Obviously I wish I had raised the leaderboard a little higher. I think I’ve done a lot from the game over the last few days. As the round continued, my swing continued to improve and I was able to give some opportunities to hit some key shots.”
There were 10 players at 4 under 138. This includes groups that did not guarantee that three players were on the field a week ago.
Michael Solbyonsen (70), the former No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University rankings while at Stanford, entered when Vijay Singh retreated. Ryan Fox (71) won his first PGA Tour title at Myrtle Beach last week and took over the PGA Championship.
Alex Smalley (71) did not enter until Sahis Tegala retreated. Smalley arrived within one shot of the lead with three birdies on a four-hole stretch around the turn, but was two behind the bogeys on the final two holes.
But it starts in Vegas. Las Vegas starts with the friendly Venezuelan, who has already stacked 13 birdies in two rounds and has 36 holes to see if he can lift the trophy.
