Day two was a sight for the sore eyes of golf after the opening round at Baltusrol Golf Club chewed up and spit out the likes of Matt Kuchar, Rory McIlroy, and Dustin Johnson. Not one of the three men listed made the cut during this week’s major.
As it sits right now, Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb each hold a share of the 9-under-par lead.
Walker, a long-time pro on the PGA Tour, hasn’t had much luck this year since finishing sixth at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in early March. Since then Walker has missed four cuts and hasn’t finished better than tied for 14th in 11 events. Walker key to winning this weekend would have to be his putter. Over the last two weeks, Walker has found some life in his putter and wasn’t afraid to show it either sinking a 26-foot putt on the par-3 12th hole and a near 39-footer on the par-4 13th.
You remember Robert Streb don’t you? Well if you don’t allow me to refresh your memory. Streb was the golfer who made the putter wedge famous after accidentally snapping his putter midway through his round. You can find the videos of these putts by clicking here.
Streb, a relatively short-time pro since becoming a full-time PGA pro in 2011, has struggled even worse than Walker. Streb has missed nine cuts in 23 starts and with his best finish of 2016 being a tied for 18th finish at the Farmers Insurance Open in January. Streb’s success can be attributed to many things but also helps when you get on the green in regulation 75% of the time. Over the last two days, Streb has hit 27 of 36 greens in regulation but didn’t start capitalizing on those opportunities until his second round where he would go on to shoot a 7-under 63.
The Open Championship winner, Henrik Stenson, is currently three shots off the lead as he tries to win his second major in three weeks. Last year’s PGA Championship winner, Jason Day sits two strokes off the lead after 3-under and 4-under rounds in his first and second, respectively.
Round three will be currently underway as you read this but once you’re done, plop yourself down on the couch and tune into TNT from 1 p.m. EST to 7 p.m. EST to watch coverage of the third round as Walker and Streb try to fend off other golfers and more importantly themselves as they try to maintain their lead.