McNealy Smalley share PGA lead

Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley took the halfway lead at the PGA Championship on Friday after two rounds at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Both players were 4-under 136 after 36 holes, according to the PGA Championship leaderboard. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion and world No. 1, was tied for ninth at 2-under, while Rory McIlroy was tied for 30th at 1-over after a bogey-free 67. (pgatour.com) Friday’s leaderboard remained tightly packed. (pgatour.com) The gap between first place and the cut line was small enough that 44 players finished within five shots of the lead, PGA TOUR reported, leaving a large group in range entering the weekend. (pgachampionship.com) Aronimink, hosting the PGA Championship for the first time since 1962, produced difficult scoring conditions and no player separated from the field through two rounds. ### How did McNealy and Smalley get there? Alex Smalley shot a 1-under 69 on Friday despite making three straight bogeys after the turn. The PGA TOUR’s round recap said he closed with a birdie and reached 4-under in only his fifth major championship. (pgatour.com) Maverick McNealy posted a 67 and at one point became the only player to reach 6-under for the week. The PGA TOUR said he holed a bunker shot for eagle at the par-5 16th before late bogeys pulled him back into a tie with Smalley. (pgatour.com) McNealy said in his post-round press conference that leading a major was new ground for him. “This is unfamiliar territory for me,” he said, according to the PGA Championship website. ### Why was the leaderboard still so crowded? (pgatour.com) Aronimink’s setup kept scores compressed. The Associated Press report carried by PGA TOUR said the 4-under total was the highest 36-hole lead at the PGA Championship since 2012 at Kiawah Island. Scottie Scheffler described the second-round conditions in stark terms. “This is the hardest set of pin locations that I’ve seen since I’ve been on tour,” he said after a 71, adding that included U.S. (pgatour.com) Opens and Oakmont, according to PGA TOUR’s report. Morning temperatures barely reached 50 degrees Fahrenheit and wind affected the early groups, the PGA TOUR said. Later in the day, firmer and faster greens made long-putt speed control difficult as pin positions became more exacting. (pgatour.com) ### Where do Scheffler and McIlroy stand? Scottie Scheffler entered the weekend two shots off the lead and still positioned near the front of the market. Oddschecker listed Scheffler at 4/1 after the second round, shorter than the co-leaders and the rest of the field. That aligns with pre-tournament pricing that had him as the favorite at multiple sportsbooks. (pgatour.com) Rory McIlroy moved closer with a 3-under 67 on Friday. He told reporters afterward that “at five back I do feel like I’m right in the tournament,” according to PGA TOUR’s round notebook. McIlroy finished the day tied for 30th at 1-over overall. (pgatour.com) ### Who else is in the mix besides the headliners? Hideki Matsuyama was among the players one shot back at 3-under, joined by Chris Gotterup, Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee and Max Greyserman on the official leaderboard. Justin Thomas, Cameron Young and Ludvig Aberg joined Scheffler at 2-under, two behind the leaders. Jon Rahm, Jason Day and Patrick Cantlay were among the players at 1-under or even par still close enough to contend if scoring opens up on Saturday. (pgatour.com) Seven major champions were within four shots of the lead after Friday, according to the Associated Press report published by PGA TOUR. (pgatour.com) That group included Scheffler, Thomas, Rahm and Matsuyama, with McIlroy also still within striking distance despite sitting outside the top 20. (pgachampionship.com) ### What happens next at Aronimink? Round 3 is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Aronimink Golf Club, where the 108th PGA Championship runs through Sunday, May 17. The official championship site lists McNealy and Smalley atop the leaderboard entering the weekend, with Scheffler, McIlroy and a large group of chasers still in range. (pgachampionship.com) (pgatour.com 1) (pgatour.com 2)