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Journalism of Courage
Graeme Storm’s stay atop the leaderboard ended on Friday. Phil Mickelson’s stay at the PGA Championship looks as if it will last through the weekend.
Playing in the first group of the day, Storm was unable to capitalise on relatively cool weather and lack of wind, making five bogeys and a double over his first 15 holes to blow his two-stroke lead.
That left John Daly alone in the lead at 3 under, still awaiting his afternoon tee time, when temperatures were expected to reach 38 C again.
One shot off the lead at 2 under was a big group that included Woody Austin (after 13 holes), John Senden (12), Scott Verplank (11), Stephen Ames (9) and Arron Oberholser. Storm, who finished the first day at 5-under 65, was at 1 under for the tournament.
Tiger Woods had an afternoon tee time. He finished Thursday at 1-over 71. Mickelson, meanwhile, overcame a pair of bogeys early in his second round and made the turn at even par for the day, 3 over for the tournament.
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh is yet to begin his second round. On Thursday, he endured a nightmarish back nine to card six-over 76 while Jyoti Randhawa withdrew due to viral fever on the first day of the PGA Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jeev, the reigning UBS Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, playing his fourth successive Major, had a fine start with a one-under comprising two birdies and a bogey on front nine.
But he then ran into trouble and went seven over for back nine, including one triple bogey on par-4 12th and then a double on closing 18th. He also had bogeys 15th and 16th.
Randhawa caught severe cold and cough soon after landing in Tulsa. He is likely to fly back once he is better slightly and will take a week or two off.
