USPGA: Jones and Day as weather stops play

When play was suspended at Whistling Straits Matt Jones and Jason Day of Australia were at the top of the leaderboard on nine-under-par, one clear of England’s Justin Rose.

When play was suspended during the second round of the USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Matt Jones and Jason Day of Australia were at the top of the leaderboard on nine-under-par, one clear of England’s Justin Rose.

A series of thunderstorms rolled in causing the day to be shortened with many of the afternoon starters still out on the course. At that stage both Day and Jones were five under for their second rounds and nine-under-par in total.

Justin Rose was also five under for the day, through 17 holes. The Englishman made a double bogey on the 4th, but countered that with no fewer than eight birdies.

Justin Rose swing sequence:

Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth made his move with a second round of 67 to climb to six-under-par, three behind the leaders. His round was ignited by a holed bunker shot on the 18th, his ninth hole of the day. He then got it going on his back nine with a series of birdies that put him right into contention.

“I made a couple of putts today,” Spieth said. “But with a couple chip-ins for the week and really smart course management and good speed control, we have been able to hold ourselves in there.”

Rory McIlroy had another slightly disappointing day. He carded a second straight 71 to finish round 2 on two-under-par. He’ll need to go low in round three to have a chance.

“I felt like I played better than what the score reflected,” said McIlroy, who was at 2 under for the tournament. “A little bit annoyed.”

There was some good scoring earlier in the day with Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata becoming just the 25th man to score a 63 in a Major. George Coetzee of South Africa carded a 65 and Henrik Stenson posted a 66.

Tiger Woods will need to produce something special if he’s to make the cut when play resumes on Saturday. The four-time champion is four-over-par through 13 holes of his second round and the cut is predicted to fall at two-over.

Overnight leader Dustin Johnson reached eight-under at one point in his round but he fell back with three bogeys and is now five-under through 14 holes of his second round.

USPGA Championship – Day 2 Scores Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Aug 13-16, par 72, purse: $10,000,000

T1    Jason Day (Aus)        -9 T1    Matt Jones (Aus)        -9 3    Justin Rose (Eng)        -8 T4    David Lingmerth (Swe)    -7 T4    Harris English        -7 T4    Tony Finau (USA)        -7 T7    Jordan Spieth (USA)    -6 T7    Scott Piercy (USA)    -6 T7    Brendan Steele (USA)    -6 T7    Russell Henley (USA)    -6 T7    J.B. Holmes (USA)    -6

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage