PGA Championship 2023 LIVE: Leaderboard and latest updates as Koepka leads after third round
Rory McIlroy remains in contention for a third US PGA title at Oak Hill, but trails the leading group by five.
Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners held the lead at the halfway point at five under. Bryson DeChambeau is a further two behind, with Brooks Koepka on three under, and McIlroy managed to not find himself adrift after he his 69 to reach level par. Defending champion Justin Thomas made the cut, but John Rahm struggled and England’s US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick missed it by one.
Scheffley and Conners hit two-under 68s and Hovland hit a 67, but Koepka’s round of 66 matches the best of the tournament so far, along with first-round leader DeChambeau. Masters runner-up Brooks Koepka was alongside England’s Callum Tarren on two under thanks to a 66 which included four birdies in the last seven holes.
Follow the leaderboard and latest updates from Oak Hill below.
US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 3 UPDATES
The 105th US PGA Championship continues at Oak Hill Country Club in New York
Rory McIlroy finishes at -1 after round of 69
Club pro Michael Block cards third successive round of 70 to sit ninth
LATEST: Hovland and Koepka share lead after Conners double bogey
Leaderboard: -6: Koepka; -5: Hovland, Conners; -3: DeChambeau; -2: Rose, Scheffler; -1:McIlroy.
Good response from Conners
00:07 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -2 (17), Conners -5 (17)
Conners needs to put that last hole behind him over these closing two holes and he just does that. Drive down the middle, green in regulation and a solid two-putt for par. A solid par on the closing hole would also do him nicely and into the clubhouse with it all to play for.
Scheffler lags up a long-distance putt well and he taps in for a par. A disappointing day for him is nearly over but he’s still just four back.
Double bogey for Conners
23:57 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -2 (16), Conners -5 (16)
That mistake out of the bunker was very costly for Conners in the end. His third shot left him with a very tricky shot out of the rough and over the bunker. He gave himself a look at a five but the putt whistles by and it’s a double-bogey six. His first dropped shots of the day and he is no longer leading the tournament.
Scheffler makes par to remain at two under.
Koepka and DeChambeau finish off
23:55 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -3 (70), Koepka -6 (66)
The two LIV golfers approach the last and both walk away with pars. Koepka shaves the left edge of the hole with his effort but he has to settle for par and a four-under-par round of 66. Superb stuff in testing conditions from the four-time major champion and he looks likely to be in the final pairing in his second successive major.
DeChambeau fires an even par round to remain at three under. In today’s conditions that’s no mean feat as well and he will no doubt fancy his chances tomorrow.
Trouble for Conners
23:41 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -2 (15), Conners -7 (15)
Conners is in the bunker off the tee but something goes horribly wrong with his second. It doesn’t get up at tall and flies straight into the lip of the bunker, wedging itself between the rough and the sand. Rules official is called and relief will surely have to be called.
Koepka moves within one
23:39 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -3 (17), Koepka -6 (17)
Death, taxes and Koepka contending at majors. Brooks is just relentless in these tournaments and he pours in a birdie chance from long range to send those in the stands wild as he moves to five under par.
DeChambeau hangs in there as well and makes a good putt for par to remain at three under.
Rose and Block into the clubhouse
23:36 , Ben Fleming
Rose -2 (69), Block E (70)
What a fun pairing this has been to watch. Michael Block, the club pro, misses out on a birdie at the last but taps in for his third consecutive round of 70 to stay at even par. An incredible three days just keeps getting better for him.
Rose safely negotiates his two-putt and he ends up at two under after his bogey on 17. A good round from him too and if he can carry on his putting display coupled with the improved driving on the back nine, he’ll be a man to watch out for tomorrow.
Conners into the lead
23:32 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -2 (15), Conners -7 (15)
You can criticise Conners for being a tad conservative on some of these holes but not at the 15th. It’s an arrow onto that top tier and he makes the nine-feet putt down the slope to move to seven under.
Scheffler gets himself in trouble as his tee shot comes up short but it’s a masterful touch with the wedge to get up and down and stay at two under par.
Scheffler birdies 14
23:29 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -2 (14), Conners -6 (14)
The short 14th is about as getable a hole as Oak Hill will present to you. Scheffler, who has made nothing all day, makes no mistake and moves to two under with a birdie.
Conners plays a conservative chip into the green and he walks away with another par. 13 of them so far with the Candian with the one birdie.
Koepka misses out at 16
23:26 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -3 (16), Koepka -5 (16)
Koepka with a sparkling, aggressive iron into this 16th green and he leaves himself just over ten feet for the birdie...but he just misses out. Plenty of birdie chances coming and going all around the course at the moment. DeChambaeu safely escapes with a par with a good two-putt from range.
Hovland misses another chance
23:20 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -6 (14), Suh -2 (14)
He is still in a tie for the lead but Viktor has seen two really good birdie chances go begging in as many holes. It was just seven feet up the slope but it breaks to the right just at the end and he must settle for a par.
Justin Suh is still right in there too as he makes a good birdie to improve his score to two under par.
Back-to-back birdies for Bryson
23:16 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -3 (15), Koepka -5 (15)
The two LIV golfers are putting together two mighty fine rounds as DeChambeau pours in another birdie after a cracking tee shot into the par three. Koepka’s tee shot doesn’t stay on the top tier and he can’t make the lengthier birdie effort.
Missed birdie chance for Scheffler
23:14 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -1 (13), Conners -6 (13)
This Scottie Scheffler putting performance is giving flashbacks of the Masters last month. He couldn’t make a putt to save his life then and it’s the same today. Another chance slides by on the par-five 13th as Conners also makes par after a tame birdie effort.
McIlroy and Lowry finish up
23:12 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy -1 (69), Lowry +1 (71)
McIlroy drives into the left rough off the tee but catches a good break in the rough. His second shot is inches away from being perfect but he can get up and down from the rough for his par. A one-under-par 69 leaves him at one under for the tournament and five back as things stand.
Lowry chips in at the last to save his par and he sits at one over after a round of 71. We’ll see how the leaderboard finishes up but you suspect that both these players are in with a chance tomorrow.
Birdie for DeChambeau
23:09 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -2 (14), Koepka -5 (14)
DeChambeau was always going to have the distance to make use of the short par-four 14th but he has to show his short-game touch to get the birdie after his drive comes up just short and awkwardly rests against the bunker. Bryson makes no mistake, though, and he moves back to two under.
Koepka also has a great look but he inexplicably lets it slide from just six feet. A par for the American.
Chance goes begging for Rose
23:05 , Ben Fleming
Rose -3 (16), Block E (16)
Rose gets a bit lucky with his drive which catches the first cut rather than dropping into the bunker. He fires into the heart of the green and has a good look at birdie. Block shows him the line with his own effort which comes up just short but it’s perhaps the first poor putt of the day from Rose and it falls way short of the hole. He would have fancied that.
Birdie chance for Hovland
23:03 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -6 (13), Suh -1 (13)
It’s another well-constructed hole by Hovland and he carves out another birdie chance but he hasn’t given it enough and it runs out of steam just before the hole. Suh makes par to remain at one under.
Conners makes par to retain share of lead
22:58 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -1 (12), Conners -6 (12)
If there is perhaps one criticism of this round from Conners, it’s that he hasn’t had too many looks for birdies other than his one at eight. He makes another two-putt here for par at the twelfth but he feels like he’s on the defensive when perhaps he should be looking to take advantage of these easier holes on the start of the back nine.
Bogey for McIlroy
22:56 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy -1 (17), Lowry +1 (17)
McIlroy makes a right mess of the 17th. He’s left off the tee and into the bunker with his second. His third ends up over the back and, in the end, it’s a really important up and down to get away with just a bogey. He drops back to one under while Lowry remains one over.
Bogey for DeChambeau, Koepka within one
22:53 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -1 (13), Koepka -5 (13)
Bryson gets in trouble off the tee and his third shot ends up in the thick rough The American hacks out but the green is sloping away from the pin and it leaves him with a long par putt...which he can’t make.
Koepka chips down from the hill and has a putt not far off where DeChambeau missed...and he makes it! Up to five under for the four-time major champion is firing again.
Back-to-back birdies for Block
22:50 , Ben Fleming
Rose -3 (15), Block E (15)
What a story Michael Block is. The club pro is living his best life out there at Oak Hill as he pours in a birdie at the short par-four 14th. Par-three 15th up next...and it’s even better. The ee shot goes to 9 feet and he sinks that one as well to get back to even par for the tournament.
Rose can’t make birdie at the 14th after he gets in trouble off the tee and has work to do to save his par at the next hold. It’s six feet down the hill but he makes no mistake - such a good putting display from him today.
Hovland tied for the lead
22:45 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -6 (12), Suh -1 (12)
Hovland’s been one of the best iron players so far this tournament and it’s on full display here as his iron grabs the green and spins back to within 5 feet. He knocks it on for back-to-back birdies and Conners now has company at the top of the leaderboard.
Conners saves par again
22:43 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -1 (11), Conners -6 (11)
The weakest part of Conners’ game has historically been his putting. But that has not been the case this week and especially today and he makes another good par save to maintain his lead. Scheffler also makes par to remain at one under.
McIlory into the top five
22:41 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy -2 (16), Lowry +1 (16)
This has been a proper gutsy back-nine performance from McIlory. It could have gotten away from him after those bogeys on eight and nine but he pours in his third birdie of the back nine to move to two under par and into the top five. Lowry remains at one over.
Koepka moves into solo third
22:38 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -2 (12), Koepka -4 (12)
DeChambeau rolls a long birdie effort past the hole but Koepka has a much better look at birdie and he makes no mistake! He moves to within two of the lead.
Hovland within one
22:31 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -5 (11), Suh -1 (11)
Hovland had a slight wobble in the middle of the front nine but appears to be back to his ball-striking best with a good iron into the 11th green. It’s a tricky putt down the slope but it falls in and he moves to five under. Suh makes a good par to remain at one under.
Rose drops one at 13
22:29 , Ben Fleming
Rose -3 (13), Block +2 (13)
Rose lays up on the par five but it’s a real unforced error and his ball stays out to the right and plugs in the greenside rough. The Englishman attempts an audacious flop shot with not much green to work with but it goes horribly one and he barely moves it forward. He tries again and succeeds this time to leave himself a testy bogey putt...which he makes. Just the one dropped shot.
Block also makes a bogey six with a three-putt and the club pro drops back to two over par.
Big par save for McIlroy
22:24 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy -1 (15), Lowry +1 (15)
McIlroy bails right with his tee shot but he drains a 12-footer for par to keep himself under par. Those are the kind of putts that have to go in. Lowry also has one of those putts but it’s from just four feet and four birdie...but it goes by! A terrible miss from the Irishman especially after a bogey on the previous hole. He sits at one over now.
Cruel lip-out for Holvand
22:19 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -4 (10), Suh -1 (10)
Hovland creates a really nice opportunity as he and Suh hit the back nine but his effort is perhaps a bit pacey and lips round and out of the hole. So close for the Norwegian. Suh makes a good par to remain at one under.
It’s wet...again
22:13 , Ben Fleming
The heavens have opened again roughly two minutes after I mentioned it had stopped raining.
Cheers, Mother Nature
Final pair head to the back nine
22:10 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -1 (9), Conners -6 (9)
Conners gets in some trouble with his second shot and has an awkward third out of the rough. It’s well-executed by the Canadian and he saves par. Scheffler is looking less than convincing with his putter and just about manages to make a par. Plenty of work to do for him in the remaining nine holes.
Missed chance for Bryson
22:08 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -2 (10), Koepka -3 (10)
We are seeing a lot more chances for birdies now the rain has subsided. Brooks’s chance goes begging but Bryson’s is far more appealing and just inside 11 feet. He can’t make it though and remains at two under.
Par save for Suh
22:04 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -4 (9), Suh -1 (9)
The young American gets in trouble off the tee again but is able to avoid three bogeys in a row with a superb 25-foot par save. Hovland two-putts from distance to make his par. Inviting holes coming up now for the pair of them.
Back-to-back birdies for McIlroy
22:02 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy -1 (13), Lowry E (13)
With all that rain the greens look and feel a bit more receptive for the afternoon players. McIlroy makes the most of that and flies in a super wedge to just under three feet. He knocks in another birdie and moves into the red. Lowry makes his par to remain at level par.
Conners gets to six under
21:58 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -1 (8), Conners -6 (8)
It’s been very solid stuff so far from Conners but he sprinkles a bit of class onto the eighth hole with a sublime second shot into the green. He has just under four feet for his par putt and makes no mistake to extend his lead back to two shots. Scheffler makes par and now sits five shots off the lead.
Rose moves into second
21:56 , Ben Fleming
Rose -4 (11), Block +1 (11)
The conditions are calming down out there and there are scores to be had. Justin Rose needs no invitation and he pours in another one down the slop at 11. Block follows suit and also makes birdie - a good exchange from the pair and it looks like they are feeding off each other and the crowd rather nicely.
Hovland within one
21:53 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -4 (8), Suh -1 (8)
Viktor Hovland threatened to let things get away from him but it’s a glorious second shot from the rough to under 12 feet. He steps up and makes a birdie to move within one while Suh drops one after getting into trouble with his tee shot.
Rose misses birdie chance
21:50 , Ben Fleming
Rose -3 (10), Block +2 (10)
Rose has been pouring them in today and has another chance...but it lips out! His facial expressions suggest he knows that was a big chance. Still, plenty of chances to come in the coming holes for him to put a further dent into the lead of Conners.
Club pro Block makes another impressive par save to keep his solid tournament going.
Scheffler drops another
21:48 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -1 (7), Conners -5 (7)
The wheels are falling off for Scottie at the minute. The par save doesn’t have enough pace on it and it’s back-to-back bogeys for the world number two. Out of all the three overnight leaders, you would not have suspected he would have been the one to fall away under pressure.
Conners show no nerves and knocks in his seventh par. Confident stuff so far from the Canadian.
Missed chance for Koepka
21:45 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -2 (8), Koepka -3 (8)
Koepka has a good look at birdie on the eight but it just misses. He thought it was in but not to be for Brooks. He remains at three under. DeChambeau has to get up and down from behind the bunker...and does just that. Nicely done - he remains in the thick of it.
Stroke of luck for Scheffler
21:44 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -2 (6), Conners -5 (6)
Scottie Scheffler, you are one lucky man. His drive is in the rough and he tries to hack it out of the second cut and chase it up to the green. He catches it so heavy and the ball bounces into the water but somehow bounces back out onto dry land!! A very big break.
His third spins back down the slope of the green and he’ll have work to do for his par. Conners’ second goes left and he’ll need a cute up and down to save par.
Back to even par for McIlroy
21:42 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy E (11), Lowry E (11)
That is sublime from Rory. He has a nice angle into the green but he uses the slop and the spin to feed it down to within four feet. A simple birdie moves him back to even par and with chances to come, this has to be the time for Rory to make a move.
Lowry makes par too and also sits at level par.
Suh drops back
21:39 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -3 (7), Suh -2 (7)
Hovland finds the rough just beside the green after two but shows good touch to get up and down and save his par. Suh makes a right mess of it from around the green and a three-putt from close range means he makes a bogey five. Back to two under for the American.
Conners leads by two
21:31 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -2 (6), Conners -5 (6)
There is nothing out of the ordinary about what Conners is doing right now, it’s just superb percentage play in tough conditions. Whilst everyone else falters around him, he makes another good two-putt and his sixth consecutive par. His lead is now two.
Scheffler is in trouble off the tee and has more work to do with the wedge in hand. He leaves himself just over 13 feet for par but misreads the putt and drops another and he is now three off the lead.
Koepka punished for poor tee shot
21:28 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -2 (7), Koepka -3 (7)
DeChambeau let himself down last hole and this time Brooks does as he sends it way left off the tee. He pulls his second out of the rough and has a tough up and down from off the green. He can’t make it and he drops back to three under.
DeChambeu hits a lovely iron shot in close but can’t take advantage and has to settle for par.
Rose into third
21:25 , Ben Fleming
Rose -3 (8), Block +2 (8)
Justin Rose has the magic touch with the flat blade at the minute. 34 feet for another birdie and it’s no problem. The hole feels like a bucket right now for the Englishman and he is up into a tie for third.
Block misses his birdie effort by a whisker and he remains at two over.
Missed birdie chance for Rory
21:23 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy +1 (10), Lowry E (10)
Much better from Rory who carves out a good look at birdie with a nice iron into ten. His putt whisks past the left edge and that’s a missed chance. Lowry also makes par and both will need a couple of shots in the final eight holes.
Fleetwood sets the clubhouse lead
21:17 , Ben Fleming
Fleetwood +1 (68)
Tommy just misses out on a birdie at the last but it’s a really round from the Englishman in testing conditions. We’ll see where that score leaves him when the leaders are finished but I suspect today won’t see too many low scores and he’ll be in with a chance tomorrow if he can go low.
Double bogey for DeChambeau
21:13 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -2 (6), Koepka -4 (6)
DeChambeau wild off the tee and the television camera catches the huge splash as it enters the water to the right. He is in the bunker for his fourth shot and misses a testy bogey putt. A double-bogey six moves him back to two under par.
Koepka makes a very solid two-putt and he stays one back of Conners.
Good par save for Conners and Scheffler
21:12 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -3 (5), Conners -5 (5)
Conners and Scheffler both have to navigate long putts on this massive fourth green. Conners races his past while Scheffler leaves his short but both make good second putts for par.
Rose makes birdie
21:08 , Ben Fleming
Rose -2 (7), Block +2 (7)
Rose still can’t find the fairway but he is able to get the ball on the green in two and he makes no mistake as he drains a birdie effort. The Englishman is hanging around and making some putts - could he get up towards the leaders?
Block makes a very nice par save to remain at two over.
Hovland drops another shot
21:05 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -3 (5), Suh -3 (5)
Hovland dropped one on the fourth and he repeats that on the fifth after he races by a birdie effort and three putts. A costly mistake for the Norwegian who now has to navigate the tricky closing holes on the front nine. Suh makes his par to remain at three under.
Back-to-back bogeys for Rory
21:03 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy +1 (9), Lowry E (9)
The end of the front nine is a tough part of the course and McIlroy has certainly found that to be true. He’s in the rough off the green after his second and is frustrated with himself as he leaves his chip short. A bogey putt misses on the right and he moves to one over par. Work to do...
Long par save for Rose
21:01 , Ben Fleming
Rose -1 (6), Block +2 (6)
Rose continues to defy Oak Hill logic by finding no fairways but dropping no shots. A 32-feet par save loops around the hole before dropping in. Block has no such luck and has to settle with a double bogey after trouble off the tee.
Scheffler struggling with the putter
20:58 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -3 (4), Conners -5 (4)
Conners has just gone about his business and, with others dropping off behind him, he’s now in the lead. Onto the fourth and Scheffler has a good look at birdie but he races it past - the putter has let him down in recent tournaments and it’s not started too well so far this round.
Conners hits his approach shot inside Scheffler and has a good look at birdie too but it lacks the pace and falls across the face of the hole - that’s a missed opportunity for the Canadian.
Koepka into second
20:54 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -4 (5), Koepka -4 (5)
Man, there is something about Koepka in major championships. It’s a dart into the par-three fifth and he makes no mistake to move to four under. DeChambeau is known for his driving distance but he shows excellent touch from the rough behind the green to save his par and remain at four under.
Something is brewing in this pairing.
Hovland drops off the lead
20:52 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -4 (4), Suh -3 (4)
Viktor is all over the place on the fourth and leaves himself a lengthy putt to save his par. He can’t make it and he drops back to four under. Suh is also in trouble but saves his par courtesy of a sumptuous up and down from the back of the green.
McIlroy back to even par
20:45 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy E (8), Lowry E (8)
Lowry has a long put for birdie which just misses on the high side. McIlroy, though, is plenty of trouble off the tee and in the greenside bunker after his second. He leaves himself 8 feet for par...but it drifts by. It was always left and doesn’t catch the edge. He’s given away his two early birdies and is back at even par.
Koepka moves into third
20:40 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -4 (4), Koepka -3 (4)
Bryson is in trouble off the tee but it’s a delightful chip with his fourth to just 16 inches and he should go ahead and save par. Koepka has a good look at a birdie...and he makes no mistake! A good start for him as he moves into third at three under par
Lowry bogeys seven
20:37 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy -1 (7), Lowry E (7)
Having just made birdie on the hardest hole of the course, the Irishman drops one straight away at the next. It’s a poor drive that gets him in trouble and he moves back to level par. McIlroy makes his par and remains at one under.
Another double bogey for Tarren
20:32 , Ben Fleming
Tarren +2 (4), Pendrith -1 (4)
Two holes, two double bogeys, four shots gone. Not the start Tarren had in mind but he’s in trouble off the tee and makes a seven on the par-five fourth. Pendrith, meanwhile, has made a steady start and remains at one under par.
Rose back under par
20:27 , Ben Fleming
Rose -1 (4), Block E (4)
For someone who can’t buy a fairway off the tee, Rose sure is putting together a good tournament so far. He has to lay up into the par-five fourth but it’s a dart into the green that leaves him a short birdie putt which he makes.
Block makes a good putt to save his par and remain at even par.
Suh bounces back
20:25 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -5 (3), Suh -3 (3)
Nicely done from the young American as he makes a good birdie on the third to move back to three under. Hovland makes a good par and he’s still leading at five under.
Back-to-back bogeys for Scheffler
20:22 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -3 (2), Conners -5 (2)
Well...who saw this coming? Poor three-putt on the first, wild second shot on the second and another bogey from the world number two. He can’t get up and down from the greenside bunker and drops another shot.
Conners remains at five under and in the lead with a par.
Problems for McIlroy
20:21 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy -1 (6), Lowry -1 (6)
Rory started well but he gifts one back to the course with a poor second shot. It ends up perched on the bunker and he can’t get out and on to the green at the first attempt. He knocks it to six feet and makes a good putt to ensure it’s just a bogey five.
Lowry on the other hand...what a putt! There’s only been four birdies on six all day but that is one of them. He pours it in from long range and he moves under par for the tournament.
DeChambeau into second
20:17 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -4 (3), Koepka -2 (3)
The big-hitting American rolls one in om the par-three third and he moves to within one of the lead. A par for Koepka who remains at two under.
Double bogey for Tarren
20:14 , Ben Fleming
Tarren E (3), Pendrith -1 (3)
Tarren makes a right mess on the par-three third. His tee shot is way left and his second way long. He chips onto the green but misses a short bogey putt. A five for the Englishman and he’s back to even par.
Opening bogey for Scheffler
20:10 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler -4 (1), Conners -5 (1)
Scheffler found the green in regulation but it’s a poor three-putt from the world number two and he drops a shot on the first. Conners holds his nerve, however, and makes a good par save to keep himself in a tie for the lead.
Early birdies for Svensson
20:07 , Ben Fleming
Svensson -2 (4)
Conners may be the Canadian in the final group but Svensson, his fellow countryman, has made a very nice start as well. Back-to-back birdies at three and four sees him jump into the top five at two under.
Scheffler underway
19:59 , Ben Fleming
Scheffler (-5), Connors (-5)
Scottie tees it off and we’re now fully underway in this third round. He finds the green in regulation while Conners is in some trouble after his tee shot finds the left rough.
Opening par for Hovland
19:58 , Ben Fleming
Hovland -5 (1), Suh -2 (2)
Hovland makes a solid start to the round with a good par but Suh can’t follow suit and drops one straight away.
McIlroy on the charge
19:57 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy -2 (5), Lowry E (5)
Rory has made expert use of the par threes and it’s a superb iron shot onto the green - he converts and he’s now just three back from the lead and two under for the round.
Lowry makes par and remains at even par
Pars for Brooks and Bryson
19:48 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau -3 (1), Koepka -2 (1)
Koepka shows good touch around the green and he gets up and down after some trouble off the tee. DeChambeau misses with a long birdie effort but taps in for his par.
Block bounces back
19:46 , Ben Fleming
Rose -E (2), Block E (2)
Rose has been poor off the tee so far this tournament and that trend has continued these opening two holes. He can’t get on the green in two and his par save comes up just short.
Block, however, finds the green in regulation and rolls in a delightful birdie putt as he turns and celebrates to the crowd. He’s back to even par and soaking up every moment of this experience.
Massive birdie putt from Fox
19:43 , Ben Fleming
Fox E (7)
Fleetwood may have thought that he had the longest putt of the day but he’s been outdone by New Zealand’s Ryan Fox - 73 feet off green covered and a timely birdie on seven to move him to even par.
Hovland in contention yet again
19:37 , Ben Fleming
Hovland (-5), Suh (-3) - 7:40pm BST
Viktor Hovland is making a really good habit of playing well in the majors. He finished T4 at The Open last summer and T7 at last month’s Masters and he now finds himself in a tie for the lead after two rounds here in Rochester. In his previous two attempts, the Norwegian has faded towards the end - he’ll be hoping to learn from those experiences and remain in the hunt until the very end.
He’ll be playing alongside young American Justin Suh who is enjoying a great year on the PGA Tour and has made just two bogeys in his opening two rounds.
Boos for DeChambeau and Koepka
19:36 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau (-3), Koepka (-2)
A chorus of boos greets LIV’s DeChambeau and Koepka as they arrive on the tee. It didn’t happen the first two days so surprising to see it now. DeChambeau is unmoved and smokes his down the fairway, Koepka sends his out to the right rough.
Early birdie for McIlroy
19:32 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy -1 (3), Lowry E (3)
Well, could it be happening? Rory certainly won’t be getting ahead of himself but that’s a super start from the world number three. He makes the most of his iron shot into the par three and taps in for the birdie. Into the red he goes...
Lowry is awfully unlucky not to make birdie also with his effort. Perfectly weighted down the slop and catches the left lip but somehow it doesn’t drop.
Rahm finishes off
19:30 , Ben Fleming
Rahm +6 (72), Smith +4 (70)
Rahm has battled well in that back nine but I suspect he’ll be even happier by the warm bath that awaits him. A two-over-par 72 for the Spaniard leaves him at six over. Smith also taps in for par and it’s a hard-fought even-par round by the Open Champion.
Bogey for Block
19:28 , Ben Fleming
Rose -1 (1), Block +1 (1)
Block chases his second up just short of the green but he can’t get up and down and it’s an opening-hole bogey for the club pro.
Rose finds the front of the green with his second and gives the birdie putt a good look...it just misses on the left side and it’s a par for him.
Birdie chance for McIlroy
19:26 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy E (2), Lowry E (2)
Rory steps up first and it’s a superb iron shot off the tee to just over five feet. A great chance to get his round going. Lowry follows and sends it right over the flag stick - he’ll have a longer attempt for his birdie.
England’s Tarren gets going
19:24 , Ben Fleming
Tarren (-2), Pendrith (-1)
More people getting started and it’s now the turn of England’s Tarren and Canada’s Pendrith. They both hit left off the tee - that’s proving to be quite the popular play so far for a lot of these players so far.
More pars for McIlroy and Lowry
19:21 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy E (2), Lowry E (2)
Some very steady golf so far from the par and long may it continue. They both make good par putts on the second to stay at even par.
LIV stars in contention
19:20 , Ben Fleming
DeChambeau (-3), Koepka(-2) - 7:30pm BST
LIV Golf is yet to have one of their players win a major but they’ve got two of their biggest stars well-placed after two rounds. Brooks Koepka finished third at the Masters and is in contention once more after a very solid start.
He’ll be playing with Bryson DeChambeau who has battled injury and illness to return to this point. A four-under-par first round was followed with a 71 yesterday and the big-hitting American is just two off the lead.
Back-to-back bogeys for Jaeger, Rahm birdies 17
19:19 , Ben Fleming
Jaeger +2 (8), Rahm +6 (17)
Just as quickly as he had got to level par, the German is back where he started the round after bogeys at six and seven.
Up ahead on the back nine and Rahm is digging in and fighting hard. Three birdies now on the back nine, including one just now at 17, has the Spaniard back to six over.
Rose and club pro Block underway
19:14 , Ben Fleming
Rose (-1), Block (E)
This a fun group heading out now. Justin Rose is a man who can dig in under these tough conditions and Michael Block, the Californian club pro, is living the dream after a superb first two rounds. Both find the rough on the left and will have some tricky approaches into the green coming up.
Solid start for DJ
19:09 , Ben Fleming
Johnson +1 (3), Davis +1 (3)
Johnson nudges his birdie putt down the slop on the third and taps in for the par. Davis follows suit and makes a par also. Both even par through the first three which is steady stuff. Plenty of over-par rounds out there currently so anything even par or better will see you rise up the board.
Opening pars for McIlroy and Lowry
18:58 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy E (1), Lowry E (1)
McIlroy with an unforced error from the fairway as his iron shot ends up in the rough off the green. It’s a good lie, thankfully, and he’s able to get up and down for his par.
Lowry’s second ends up in the bunker but it’s a superb wedge from the sand from the Irishman and that’s a cracking par save to keep him at level par.
Back-to-back bogeys for Morikawa
18:56 , Ben Fleming
Morikawa +2 (6), Scott +5 (6)
I fear I may have jinxed Morikawa over those last couple of holes. Having said he was playing rather nicely, he finds himself in the greenside bunker and can’t get up and down for par. Two over par for the American.
Scott also makes bogey and his bad start continues - he’s now five over for the tournament.
Missed opportunity for Fleetwood
18:51 , Ben Fleming
Fleetwood +1 (8), Reed +4 (8)
Fleetwood hits a tidy iron shot into the eighth but can’t make the return putt for birdie and has to settle for par. He is well in this at one over par if he can find a couple of birdies on the turn.
Reed knocks in for his par too and remains at four over.
McIlroy on the tee
18:45 , Ben Fleming
McIlroy (E), Lowry (E)
Slowly but surely the contenders are starting to head to the tee box and it’s now time for two-time PGA Champion McIlory and 2019 Open Champion Lowry to tee off. McIlroy gets a nice kick out of the rough and into the fairway but Lowry sends his way left - he’ll have his work cut out for a par from there.
Bogeys for Morikawa and Fleetwood
18:40 , Ben Fleming
Morikawa +1 (5), Fleetwood +2 (8)
The pair had made good starts to their rounds but untimely bogeys for both. Morikawa misses a four-foot par putt. Fleetwood makes a five on the par-four seventh but responds with par at the next to stay at two over.
Jaeger into the top ten
18:34 , Ben Fleming
Jaeger E (5)
The German has won six times on the Korn Ferry Tour but he’s making a statement at the PGA Championship right now. Birdies at one and four have him two under par for the day and up to even par. Small signs that are birdie chances out there.
Solid start for Morikawa
18:23 , Ben Fleming
Morikawa E (4), Scott +4 (4)
It’s very early days but Morikawa is playing some nice stuff in anything but nice conditions. It’s right into the heart of the green in three on the par five but he has to settle for par after his 12-foot birdie putt whistles by. Scott also makes par and remains four over.
Opening par for Cantlay
18:19 , Ben Fleming
Cantlay +1 (1), Pereira +1 (1)
Many people fancied Patrick Cantlay coming into this week and the American is far from out of it at one over par. He misses a good look at birdie on the first but a par is fine there. Mito Pereira, who lost last year’s PGA Championship on the final regulation hole, also opens with a par.
Dustin Johnson underway
18:17 , Ben Fleming
Johnson +1, Davis +1
Two-time major champion Dustin Johnson is underway and he’s able to just about find the fairway with his fade of the tee. The same can’t be said of his playing partner as Davis sends his way left off the tee.
Monster putt for Fleetwood
18:10 , Ben Fleming
Fleetwood +1 (6), Reed +4 (6)
Reed makes a bogey but it’s all about Fleetwood who makes a...70 foot (!) birdie putt from the front of the green on the par-four sixth. That’s a huge bonus for the Brit and he now is just one over par for the tournament.
So close for Morikawa
18:03 , Ben Fleming
Morikawa E (3), Scott +4 (3)
Another super tee shot into this par-three third leaves Morikawa with a makeable birdie effort. It looks like it’s heading in but somehow horseshoes around the cup and stays out. A tough break for him but it’s still been a very good start by the former champ.
Scott makes his par and remains four over.
Spieth in the clubhouse
17:56 , Ben Fleming
Spieth +6 (71)
Spieth taps in for a par at the last and he can finally begin getting dry in the clubhouse. A hard-fought round of 71 sees the American rise ten spots into a tie for 49th.
Birdie for Homa
17:54 , Ben Fleming
Homa +5 (6), Matsuyama +3 (6)
It’s not been a great start for Homa after a double bogey on the fifth but a sparkling fairway wood leaves him a tap-in birdie at the very next hole. Matsuyama does well to scramble a par from the greenside bunker to remain at three over.
Back-to-back bogeys for Scott
17:51 , Ben Fleming
Morikawa E (2), Scott +4 (2)
Morikawa plays the second well, sending it into the heart of the green and two-putting for his par. Scott muscles out a wayward drive to the front of the green but he’s unable to make it down in two and it’s a second bogey in as many holes for him.
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