Rose top European at USPGA Championship

Justin Rose sits three shots off the halfway lead in the 2015 USPGA Championship, and in third place at Whistling Straits

Justin Rose sits three shots off the top of the leaderboard after two rounds of the 2015 USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

The Englishman had to return to the Straits Course at the crack of dawn this morning to play the final hole of his second round after last night’s storm delay at the Wisconsin golf course, and a safely secured par-four at the 18^th gave him a second round of 67, five under par, to go with a first-round 69. Rose is eight under par for two rounds and in third place, three shots behind Australian leader Matt Jones and one behind Jason Day.

“Nice to wrap up the second round,” said Rose, 35, after his group played the 18^th hole at 7am this morning (1pm GMT). “That is a good score out there for me - a bunch of birdies - eight birdies - which was nice, and nice to finish with a strong par at the last.

“I'm in good position, right there at eight under par. In any major championship that's great after two days. I'm within touching distance going into the weekend which is exactly where you want to be.”

Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion, will have to wait until 2:57pm (8:57pm GMT) for his third-round tee-off in the company of Sweden’s David Lingmerth, who is on seven under par and in a share of fourth place.

“I’ll just head back to the hotel, take the mind off for a few hours and then click back into my normal routine and rhythm,” said Rose. “I'll think about a nap. Probably go to the gym, do some sort of light movement preparation and work out and then come to the course a couple hours before my tee time and go through my normal routine."

Story courtesy of Mercedes-Benz, the Official Car of the 2015 PGA Championship.