PGA Championship Leaderboard 2015: Updating Results and Standings for Saturday
It wouldn't be moving day at the 2015 PGA Championship without a little chaos, which is just what streaking big names like Jason Day and Matt Jones get, thanks to an early Saturday start so the players can finish Round 2.
The golfers were up bright and early after rain cut the second round short Friday. A break hurt some and helped others, adding yet another layer of intrigue to a tournament already oozing with it after three prior competitive majors.
As things progress through Round 2 and back to normal programming (weather permitting, of course), here's a look at a live-updating leaderboard:
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Day made the most of Friday, watching as others, such as Dustin Johnson, struggled in the windy environment before things shut down. Round 1 wasn't bad by any means, of course, thanks to a 68 with three birdies and an eagle.
Round 2 was even better, though, with seven birdies through the 16th hole, which, at the time, put him alone with the lead at 10 under par. Some were quick to point out the weather stoppage might hurt Day, but it turned out to be the furthest thing from the truth.
He never made it sound like it would be a problem, either, per USA Today's Luke Kerr-Dineen: "With all the lightning that is in the area … It's a mess out there. I was kind of glad that we're in. It's a good idea to come back tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Jones is perhaps the tournament's biggest surprise so far. This is his second appearance in a major this year, the other being a tie for 30th at The Open Championship, which also happens to be his highest placement in any major since 2009.
Still, what better time for the Australian to become a household name? He shot a 68 in Round 1 and then went with a bogey-free card in Round 2 with five birdies, with four holes left to play.
Not a surprise is the contention bid by one Justin Rose, who as of early Saturday morning sat just a few shots off the lead thanks to a Round 2 67, a tumultuous ride featuring a double bogey and eight birdies.
He took to Twitter to celebrate a merciful end to the wild ride Saturday morning:
Rose's contention was predictable given his form at two of the majors this year: a tie for second at the Masters and a tie for sixth at The Open Championship.
As for other big names, Johnson's path thus far has been predictable. He exploded out of the gates in Round 1, even shooting an eagle on No. 16 to land with a 66 and the overnight lead. He imploded Friday, though, dropping to a tie for 12th.
The weather break might have helped Johnson, really, as a string of bogeys seemed to cool once he restarted Saturday morning. The damage is done, though, and ESPN Stats & Info made a point to illustrate why the downward spiral might continue:
Jordan Spieth rests on the opposite end of the spectrum. With the season Grand Slam out of the picture, golf's hottest commodity shot a 71 Thursday, before turning it on over the course of the wacky Round 2, shooting six birdies en route to a 67.
Spieth credits his achievements thus far for helping him cool down and make the comeback.
“We’ve already accomplished all the goals for the year,” he said, per Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. “Obviously I set some more that we’d like to get to, but all-in-all, if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out."
There's little doubt Spieth will hang around the rest of the tournament.
Other names to watch include former champion Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy. The latter is especially interesting Saturday, as he hopes to recover from a pair of 71s in the first two rounds while working his way back from injury.
If the first two days are any sign, Saturday's action will be just as entertaining. In other words, it's the perfect send-off for the majors this year.
Stats and info courtesy of PGATour.com unless otherwise specified.
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