Dean Burmester was four-under-par through 16 holes when play was suspended for bad light on Friday in the second round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
It was a bogey-free effort from the reigning South African Open champion, who picked up a birdie on the eighth on the front nine, and then made three more on his way home on the 10th, 12th and 13th as he moved to six-under for the championship and a share of 16th.
That put him six strokes off the lead, which was held, as it was after the first round, by Xander Schauffele. Schauffele added a three-under 68 to his opening 62 to move to 12-under. That was good for a one-stroke lead over Collin Morikawa, who, together with Bryon DeChambeau, produced the round of the day with his six-under 65.
DeChambeau was in a share of fourth, one behind Sahith Theegala who was in third. Mark Hubbard shared fourth with Scottie Scheffler, who overcame the effects of an early-morning arrest to card a five-under 66, suggesting that he is going to be the man to come through the weekend pressure.
Erik van Rooyen also had to complete his second round, which was a good one at three-under through 15. That included an eagle on the par-five 18th after he started is round on the 10th. He had added two birdies and a bogey to his total, and seemed headed to make the cut at two-under for the championship with the par-five seventh ahead of him.
Schauffele, fresh off his record start of 62, was not letting up in a bid to end two years without a win by capturing his first major. He had to settle for pars over his last seven holes for a 68. Morikawa birdied five in a row down the stretch only to end with a bogey for a 65.
Scheffler, the world’s number one player and Masters champion was driving to Valhalla Golf Club at about 6am local time when he ran into traffic, unaware police were investigating a pedestrian – John Mills, who worked for a vendor at the tournament – being struck and killed by a shuttle bus near the entrance.
Scheffler was arrested for failing to follow police instructions. The arrest report indicated a Louisville Metro police officer was dragged to the ground as Scheffler’s car drove by, causing swelling and abrasions on the officer’s left wrist. Scheffler said it was a “chaotic situation” and he never intended to disregard the police instructions. “A big misunderstanding,” he said.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout looked likely to miss the cut, which, at one-under, will be the lowest in PGA Championship history. He had a three-under 68, which included a lengthy eagle miss on 18, followed by a much more makeable birdie miss coming back.
Ryan van Velzen had improved in his second round and was level-par through 17 holes, but at four-over, was not going to make the cut.
Thriston Lawrence followed his opening four-over with a seven-over second round.
