McNealy, Smalley share PGA 36-hole lead

Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley reached the halfway point of the PGA Championship tied for the lead on Friday after two rounds on a course that kept scores compressed and contenders crowded. The pair finished 36 holes at 4-under-par 136 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, where wind, cold temperatures and difficult hole locations kept no one from pulling far away. Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, stood two shots back, and Rory McIlroy played his way into the weekend after a bogey-free 67. Bryson DeChambeau did not advance, finishing outside the cut line. ### How unusual was the score at the top? The 4-under total by McNealy and Smalley was the highest 36-hole leading score at the PGA Championship since 2012, according to PGA Championship and PGA Tour reports. The official championship site said it was the highest leading 36-hole total in the event since J.B. Holmes led at 1 under in 2008 at Oak Hill, reflecting the tougher setup at Aronimink. (pgachampionship.com) The leaderboard was also tightly packed. The PGA Championship site said 28 players were within five shots of the lead after 36 holes, while the PGA Tour report said the gap between first and worst was only eight shots. McIlroy said that meant anyone who survived the cut could still believe they had a chance. (pgachampionship.com) ### What did McNealy do to get there? McNealy shot a 3-under 67 on Friday and at one point reached 6 under, the only player to get that low during the first two rounds. The PGA Tour report said he holed a bunker shot for eagle at the par-5 16th and then added three birdies over his next five holes before late mistakes pulled him back. (pgachampionship.com) McNealy said he played “4 1/2 really good hours of golf” before fading late. The PGA Championship site quoted him saying the afternoon wave played easier than the morning and that his tee time helped, though he said he did not take full advantage of it. ### How did Smalley hold his round together? (pgachampionship.com) Smalley opened with a 67 on Thursday and followed it with a 1-under 69 on Friday, despite playing in harsher early conditions. The PGA Championship site said he went out in 2-under 33 on the back nine, then made three straight bogeys on the front before recovering with birdies at Nos. 4 and 9. (pgachampionship.com) Smalley, making only his fifth major start, said the day featured “a lot of really good moments” and difficult stretches in cold and windy weather. Scheffler, who posted a 71, said the hole locations were the hardest he had seen on tour, including U.S. Opens and Oakmont. (pgachampionship.com) ### Who was still in range going into the weekend? Hideki Matsuyama, Chris Gotterup, Aldrich Potgieter, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee and Max Greyserman were one shot behind the leaders at 3 under, according to the championship site. Scheffler was at 2 under, while Jason Day, Patrick Cantlay and Jon Rahm were three behind at 1 under. (pgachampionship.com) McIlroy was tied for 30th after a bogey-free 67 and sat five shots off the lead, the PGA Tour report said. Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Cameron Young were also among the players within striking distance on a board with little separation. (pgachampionship.com) ### Who missed the cut, and what comes next? The cut fell at 4 over, and 82 players made the weekend, according to the PGA Championship site. Among the notable players who missed were DeChambeau at 7 over, Tommy Fleetwood at 5 over, Keegan Bradley at 6 over and Adam Scott at 8 over. (pgatour.com) Round 3 begins Saturday, May 16, at Aronimink, and Smalley and McNealy are scheduled to tee off in the final pairing at 2:40 p.m. ET. Scheffler is paired with David Puig at 1:40 p.m. ET, and McIlroy goes out with Brooks Koepka at 11:00 a.m. ET. (pgatour.com) (pgachampionship.com)