• US PGA Championship, Round Two

Kuchar shows staying power to lead the way

Matt Kuchar played 22 holes on day two of the US PGA Championship © Getty Images

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Matt Kuchar showed phenomenal endurance levels to surge to the top of the leaderboard in the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

After finally completing his first round, the American compiled a sterling 69 to take charge at the halfway point of the tournament - some 22 holes later.

At the start of the day there was a huge sense of déjà vu as play was resumed after a fog delay of 2 hours 40 minutes - meaning second-round tee times had to be pushed back by over four hours.

But Kuchar, who resumed his round on four-under, was not to be put off and he birdied his first hole before parring his final three to sign off with a five-under-par 67.

A quick turnaround was inevitable - not that Kuchar appeared overly concerned. He drained a birdie at the second and, although a bogey on six threatened to halt his charge, he picked up a further three shots on the back nine to end the day on eight-under par.

Nick Watney was another to thrive in the situation. He began the day on four-under and once he returned to the clubhouse with an opening 69, he took it upon himself to tear up the course, shooting birdies for fun. There were five in all and he signed off with a 68 to be one shot off the lead heading into the weekend.

Elsewhere, the dreaded fog meant many players are yet to finish their second rounds. Tiger Woods is among those who are still on the front nine of their second rounds, so the leaderboard is subject to an overhaul once players catch up on play.

Woods remains at one-under after finishing with a 71 and then shooting six straight pars before daylight ran out on his second round. The first five involved a couple of par-savers but he created a great opportunity for a birdie at the sixth with an extremely difficult chip to within three feet of the hole from some nasty rough lying well below the green, but his birdie putt rolled around the full circumference of the cup before coming back out in a true Friday the 13th moment.

Vijay Singh, playing with Woods, had moments earlier eagled the same hole with a monster putt from well off the green that luckily found the middle of the hole, no doubt compounding Woods' frustration. Singh would have been lucky to even see the ball drop such was the fading light by that time. The eagle saw Singh leapfrog Woods into a tie for 18th at two-under.

Phil Mickelson, chasing that elusive No.1 crown, made good progress on the back nine, which he opened on, until a double bogey at No.18 put him back to even for the day. But he shot six birdies in a 69 to go with his opening 73, moving up 44 places to two-under with Singh and Ernie Els.

Given the uncertainty of the leaderboard, plenty of British players can count themselves well in contention, led by Rory McIlroy who came to prominence with a sublime 68. The Northern Irish prodigy only dropped one shot to leave himself three shots adrift of the leader.

Englishman Simon Khan threatened the lead briefly but finished with three bogeys in a rollercoaster round. He ended with a two-under 70 to go with his first-round 69 to join those tied for third at five-under. Scot Martin Laird has only completed eight holes of his second round, meaning he can capitalise on his four-under to make a charge at Kuchar early on Saturday.

Round of the day belonged to Jason Duffner, who catapulted himself into third place with a red-hot 66. Starting on the easier back nine, Duffner managed three straight birdies on 13-14-15 to go with three others in a flawless round.

Bryce Molder moved up 40 places with another majestic display. His round was showered with birdies - seven in total - although a bogey at the par-four 18th will have left a sour taste in the mouth. Still, a 67 is not to be sniffed at considering the weather conditions and he has put himself among the contenders.

It proved to be a day of mixed fortunes for Darren Clarke. Starting the day on three-under, things looked promising for the Northern Irishman. But three bogeys and one double bogey from his final five holes ensured he carded a disappointing 74. But to his credit, Clarke rallied well to strike back. There were still moments of poor golf but a 70 means all is not lost.

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