ROCHESTER, New York, 17 August 2003 — Shaun Micheel surged two shots clear of the field after Phil Mickelson, co-leader overnight, twice found water to surrender a three-shot cushion in the second round of the US PGA Championship on Friday.
With only five players in the 151-strong field breaking par in difficult conditions at sun-baked Oak Hill, Micheel birdied four of his last five holes for a 68, finishing at three-under 137. The 33-year-old American, who is ranked 169th in the world, bounced back from a double-bogey six at the 323-yard 14th by covering the first nine, his second, in three-under 32.
Left-hander Mickelson slumped to a 75 for 141 and Tiger Woods ground out a 72 for 146. Mike Weir, who threw away a two-stroke lead with bogeys on his last two holes, carded a 71 to tie for second at one under with Billy Andrade (72).
Australia’s Rod Pampling, joint-leader overnight with Mickelson after a first-round 66, was alone in fourth at 140 after returning a 74 as the wind swirled and the greens hardened at the East Course. Seventy players made the halfway cut at eight-over 148, with world number one Woods extending his run of consecutive PGA Tour cuts to 108. Only Byron Nelson, with 113 during the 1940s, has made more.
Twelve players broke par on Thursday, when the first round was largely unaffected by the largest power outage in North American history, but that figure was always likely to drop on day two with Oak Hill drying out in hot and humid conditions.
Micheel, whose wife Stephanie is 25 weeks pregnant, is playing in only the third major of his career.
Diaz Extends Lead at LPGA Kroger Classic
In Sylvania, Ohio, American Laura Diaz fired a four-under 67 on Friday to extend her lead at the LPGA Kroger Classic to three strokes after the first two rounds. Diaz, who shot a 65 on Thursday, is at 10-under 132 after 36 holes of the one million dollar event which was hit by a two-hour weather delay.
Hee-won Han, of South Korea, is second at seven-under 135. Diaz had four birdies on Friday, including a chip-in with a sand wedge on the third hole. Han had five birdies and also chipped-in from 20 yards on the first hole as she finished with a 67.
