Lingmerth grabs PGA Championship lead

David Lingmerth birdied three of his first five holes on Friday to grab a two-stroke lead in the second round of the PGA Championship with overnight leader Dustin Johnson still to tee off.

Sweden's Lingmerth started the day one adrift after an impressive five-under 67 in the worst of the afternoon winds on Thursday.

He kept the momentum going in Friday morning's more benign conditions, with birdies at the first, third and fifth at Whistling Straits.

World number one and defending champion Rory McIlroy and Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth, meanwhile, were making little headway.

Both posted one-under par 71s on Thursday, and both were even through six holes in the second round.

McIlroy got off to a steady start with pars at his first six holes. Spieth was even through six with one birdie and one bogey.

Zach Johnson, the British Open champion playing in a marquee group with Spieth and McIlroy, put the struggles of his opening 75 behind him, opening the second round with three straight birdies to get back to even par for the tournament through six holes.

With the winds expected to kick up again the afternoon, Dustin Johnson was due to tee off at 1:20 p.m. (18:20 GMT).

Having the tougher end of the draw could be even more damaging for Tiger Woods, who was to tee off at 1:30 (18:30 GMT) trying to rebound from a first-round 75 and avoid missing the cut at a third straight major.
Source: AFP