Day 2 at the 2021 PGA Champs

Posted on May 22, 2021
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Friday at The PGA Champs The wind kept blowing and even gusted in strength all day. No one could quite get settled and get on a run - always 2nd guessing yourself and thus scoring was tricky. That's standard fare for Kiawah Island - with its Ocean views and sandy lies. . In truth, scoring appeared to be easier as the day went on, but don’t tell Cameron Tringale that. After a great start on Thursday and a birdie on 11, he was ready for the challenge, but came woefully short - with 48 blows for his first 9 holes and then signing for a respectable 82 - which left 3 punters frothing. Golf is hard. Punters all suffered at the hands of the wind and undulations, so who are moving on for the SUB PICKS Overall, the day belonged to a 50 year old veteran, Phil the Thrill, and King Louis, who owns the stat Never won on US Soil, as they both posted 5 under and the 36 hole lead. The Thrill finished strong on Friday to sneak into the clubhouse early, rest up and be amped for the weekend. It's the first 50-something halfway-major-lead since Slammin Sammy Snead. That's crazy. Another stat for The Thrill, following his 69: that's his 114th score in the 60s at Majors, Tiger has 102, The Big Easy 85. They are the 3 best performers in that category since 1990. King Louis, who shot the low round of the day, a 4 under 68, will be seeking his first win on US soil, to add to his Open Championship of 2010. He looked imperious all day delivering a trackman delight. He does not get the same love as The Thrill - even having to post his own highlights. Expect some more solo singing classics too! Round of the Day The Masters Champ, Hideki, and King Louis, both signed for 68s and both played in the afternoon. Both made closing bogeys on 18, but both had ridden the par train through the notorious stretch of 14 to 17. That closing stretch is so tough and an early bogey there often leads to more. Patience, patience, more patience! Something Hovland and The Bulk are not comfortable with. Shot of the Day The course was open for eagles with their downwind par 5s and the players delivered. From the leaders, BK posted 2 eagles and Bez posted his own on # 7. BK’s Eagle from a bush was pretty special but what about the birdie, birdie finish by the Big Rig on 17 and 18? That's probably playing them 4 under the field and certainly took the prize for combo shot of the day - with over 100 feet of putts! Matching Higgs was Billy Horschel, who stuffed his approaches to within 10 feet on both 17 and 18! The Leaders A brilliant leaderboard which has it all - Major pedigree in boatloads, 1st Major Potentials, Young and Old. It's a tough pick from this crop. BK and The Thrill appear to be head and shoulders above with their multiple major wins, but it's just too tight to call, especially with our own subjectivity on the matter! King Louis playing so well this year, so too Hideki and Casey - amongst 2 other Saffas. Hideki: he is negative in strokes-gained-putting but is #1 in strokes gained tee-to-green. Can he go back-to-back? Bez: amongst the leaders is the best putter on strokes-gained with a short game that will be revered by those around him. The Chasers The Chasers might be from Even or perhaps over par - as an early start could key, with wind slightly less influential. The challenge is chasing a score at Kiawah Island is littered with bad news. Ask Hovland, sometimes you just can’t go straight at the pin! Like on 17. The Movers It's Moving Day up ahead and with the wind abound - there will be a chance for players to post a number and hope the field comes back to them. This was little form amongst the bottom finishers who were leaking bogeys as they came home. Rors will be furious with his finish, so too Collin. But what about this turnaround for Fitzy who finished on the ninth, closing with 3 birdies to make the cut and climb that board while he rested at home. Perhaps he is the pick for the weekend. Taking the weekend off Kiawah Island does not ask you if you want a weekend off, it tells you to take some time out, even orders you! No one is above the order. Not even an innocent tee box. The Saffa's were big news on day 2! The MC list ran deep and is littered with big names, former champions and certainly players who we backed! DJ (world # 1 missing 2 major cuts in a row), Scotty, Leish, Xander, Sergio (again), JT, Fleetwood, Dufner, Kaymer, Homa and Kooooch. Some of the most favoured players on majorpunter, they don’t make the weekend! Worst still - they left the scoring in tatters. All those hours of well prepared reviews and analysis - all wasted. Reminder of the Stats: Bucket 1: Xander 21% GONE, Rors 20%, JT 17% GONE , Rahmbo 10% & DJ 7% GONE. (None under par) Bucket 2: Jordan 31%, Berger 12% Cam 11%, Ancer 9% & Zala 4%. (None under par) Bucket 3: Rosie 13%, Wallace 8%, Lowry 8%, Keegan 6% & Woodland 5%. (1 of these are under par) Some are now missing for the weekend! Who do you fancy for your SUB PICKS? The top 70 players (and ties) made the cut and the early starters will be hopeful of a chance at redemption. The conditions will be definitely easier for them. Perhaps there could be move from Horschel (birdied 17 and 18 on day 2!), Stenson (birdied his last 2 holes to make the cut!), Jordan, Rahmbo, Rors, Ancer, and The Phenom - all who are a few over par. Sneaky option out there for a few of the world’s top 15 - like Rors and Rahmbo. Or Berger, who came from the end of the world with a 69 to make the cut! For a full view of the scores head to the PGA Champs Leaderboard and to the majorpunter Leaderboard. majorpunter Leaderboard: