Johnson makes early move on leader Koepka at PGA Championship

Saturday, 18 May 2019 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Danny Lee plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Bethpage State Park - Black Course, Bethpage, NY, USA, 17 May - USA TODAY Sports

FARMINGDALE, REUTERS: World number one Dustin Johnson charged up the PGA Championship leaderboard on Friday with a sizzling start that left him three shots back of overnight leader Brooks Koepka midway through his second round.

Johnson, who began the day six shots back of holder Koepka, was the hottest player on the course as he responded immediately from an opening bogey at the par-four 10th with five birdies over a sizzling seven-hole stretch.

But the long-hitting American made bogey at his ninth hole, where he missed the fairway with his tee shot and found the rough behind the green with his second shot en route to a three-under 32 that brought him to four-under par on the week.

Koepka will begin his round at 1.49 p.m. ET (1749 GMT) when he heads out in the fourth-to-last grouping off the par-four first hole in the company of Masters champion Tiger Woods and British Open champion Francesco Molinari.

New Zealand’s Danny Lee, a surprise contender who was six-under for the tournament and one shot back of Koepka when he set off with the first group at the par-four 10th, quickly fell to even par after his opening seven holes.

Lee made two consecutive bogeys starting at the 11th hole and then added a pair of double-bogeys from the 15th hole. He recovered slightly with three birdies over a four-hole stretch out of the turn and was three-under for the day after 13 holes.

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy was sitting four shots outside the projected cut line after a terrible start to his round.

The Northern Irishman mixed two double-bogeys with two bogeys and a birdie through eight holes to fall to seven-over-par for the week.

Woods, competing this week for the first time since his emotional Masters triumph, will be looking to make a charge after his short game failed him during an opening round where he finished nine shots back of Koepka.