Scottie Scheffler Upbeat As He Chases Leader In Vegas While Rory McIlroy Narrowly Makes Cut

Scottie Scheffler expressed satisfaction with his performance halfway through the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. He is three shots behind the leader, Jhonattan Vegas, as he heads into the weekend. Scheffler scored a three-under 68 on Friday, mixing four birdies with one bogey. This follows an opening round of two under par, which was affected by wet conditions.

Scheffler’s best finish in the PGA Championship was tied for second in 2023. Currently, he shares fifth place with Max Homa at five under par. Matt Fitzpatrick, Kim Si Woo, and Matthieu Pavon are two strokes behind Vegas. Scheffler’s first round was challenging due to mud balls after preferred lies were disallowed by the PGA of America.

Despite initial frustrations on Thursday, Scheffler feels optimistic about his position before moving day. “I like the position I’m in going into the weekend,” Scheffler stated. “Obviously, I wish I was a little bit further up the leaderboard.” He noted improvements in his swing and key shots that provided scoring opportunities.

Other notable players struggled more than Scheffler. Defending champion Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy barely made the cut at one over par. McIlroy had a tough start with a three-over 74 on Thursday and faced uncertainty after consecutive bogeys on Friday’s 11th and 12th holes.

Jordan Spieth missed out on continuing his quest for a career Grand Slam by failing to make the cut at this tournament. Other prominent players who did not advance include Shane Lowry, Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Rose, and Phil Mickelson.

Scheffler remains focused as he prepares for the weekend rounds at Quail Hollow. His ability to adapt and improve during play has positioned him well among strong competitors in this prestigious event.