[PGA Championship] McIlroy 'Stumbles', Zalatoris 'Surprise Leader', Scheffler 'Cut Off'... What About Woods?

2022 Season Second Major PGA Championship Day 2: Watson's '7-Under Par Daily Best', Lee Kyoung-hoon Tied 41st, Kim Si-woo Tied 53rd

Rory McIlroy is attempting a trouble shot on the 9th hole during the second day of the PGA Championship. Tulsa (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] The "Achilles heel" is indeed putting.

World No. 7 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)'s bid for a "second win" is proving difficult. On the 21st (Korean time) at Southern Hills Golf Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA (par 70, 7,365 yards), the second day of the PGA Championship, the second major of the PGA Tour, he faltered with a 1-over-par round and dropped to a tie for 5th place (4-under-par 136). Will Zalatoris (USA) surprisingly leads (9-under-par 131), with Mito Pereira (Chile) chasing in 2nd place (8-under-par 132).

McIlroy started at 5-under-par but recorded one birdie and two bogeys. His average putting per hole of 2.00 remains a concern. Last year, he ranked 2nd in driving distance (319.3 yards) and led the tour in average birdies per round (4.51), but his Strokes Gained Putting index was only 0.19 (66th). This year, it has improved slightly to 0.35 (38th), but it seems to be a critical weakness at decisive moments.

He is banking on his upward momentum, having reached his 20th career win at the CJ Cup last October, which counts toward the 2022 season, and finishing in the top 10 four times in seven events. His recent acceleration includes a runner-up finish at the Masters and 5th place at the Wells Fargo Championship on the 8th. The leaders include Justin Thomas, who maintained consistency with 3-under-par rounds on both days to sit 3rd (6-under-par 134), and Bubba Watson, who posted a daily best 7-under-par to place 4th (5-under-par 135).

‘The Returned Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods is examining the putting line on the 6th hole on the second day of the PGA Championship. Tulsa, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

Jordan Spieth is tied for 30th (1-over-par 141), with a red light flashing on his challenge to become the sixth "Career Grand Slam" winner in global golf history. He won back-to-back titles at the Masters in April 2015 and the US Open in June 2015, and then the Open Championship in July 2017, but the PGA Championship remains an "impregnable fortress." Interestingly, "The Returned Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (both USA) has escaped the cut-off line. Adding 1-under-par, he surged from tied 99th to tied 53rd.

Korea's Lee Kyung-hoon (31), the "AT&T Champ," is tied for 41st (2-over-par 142), and Kim Si-woo (27, both CJ Logistics) is tied for 53rd. 2009 champion Yang Yong-eun (50), Korean Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour money leader Kim Bi-o (32), and Kim Joo-hyung (20) were cut off. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler (USA) struggled unexpectedly. After a rollercoaster performance with 1-over-par on the first day and 5-over-par on the second, his bid for back-to-back major wins ended abruptly.