Third-ranked Brooks Koepka is playing a course only he sees in the 101st PGA Championship.
Koepka, the defending champion, carded a 5-under-par 65 to take a commanding seven-stroke lead over Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott of Australia after two rounds on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park www.bethpagegolfcourse.com in Farmingdale, N.Y.
Sixth-ranked Tiger Woods, coming off his victory in the Masters, got run over playing alongside Koepka and missed the cut.
“Today was a battle because I didn’t hit it that well; I was fighting a block,” said Koepka, who opened with a bogey-free 63. “I was lucky to get several great lies in the rough and in bunkers. But I’m still putting very well, seeing the lines, and that’s big.
“I feel good and I’m proud of myself to post a good score like I did today, even though I didn’t play all that well. I just want to continue what I’m doing on the weekend.”
Koepka, who also has won the last two U.S. Opens, birdied four of the last six holes including an 11-footer on No. 18 to finish at 128 and break the 36-hole major championship record by two strokes.
Spieth, who has been struggling this season but can complete the Career Grand Slam by winning this week, made four birdies on his back nine to shoot 66.
“(Putting is) probably 90 percent back to when I was at my best, and the only difference- maker is I think just speed control,” said Spieth, whose tie for 21st in the Masters was his best result this season. “Speed control has still been just a little bit iffy … but I feel as good or better 15 feet and in.
“I feel like I’m where I should be. I’ve put a lot of thought and work into it, and the putting feels good. I don’t expect to putt as well as I did today, each and every day. It’s just not possible. But it feels consistent enough to where the good days are like they were today, and off days, I’m still rolling some good putts.”
Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, recorded seven birdies and a lone bogey at No. 17 while posting a 64 that was the low score of the day.
The Aussie opened with birdie putts of 25 feet, 38 feet and 27 feet on the first three holes.
“I made those long putts on the first three holes and was able to play fairly solid the rest of the way,” said Scott, who has struggled on the greens since his anchored putter was banned at the start of 2016.
“I was able to keep my momentum with some nice par saves and posted a good number. This is the fifth putter I’ve used this year. It’s a fresh start and it’s working so far.”
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson had five birdies in a span of seven holes while starting his 67 on the back nine and is eight shots back in a tie for fourth with Kelly Kraft (65), Daniel Berger (66), Matt Wallace (67) of England and Luke List (68).
Second-ranked Justin Rose of England is one more back in solo ninth after a 67, and 10th-anked Rickie Fowler of Murrieta shot 69 and is 10 down in a tie for 10th with Harold Varner III (67), Sung Kang (70) of South Korea, Erik Van Rooyen (68) of South Africa, Tommy Fleetwood (71) of England, Jazz Janewattananond (68) of Thailand, Louis Oosthuizen (68) of South Africa, Hideki Matsuyama (68) of Japan and Danny Lee (74) of New Zealand.
Ninth-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State is tied for 19th after a 69, while seventh-ranked Francesco Molinari of Italy shot 68 and is in a tie for 26th that includes 2005 PGA champion Phil Mickelson, who finished at 71, and fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is tied for 57th following a 71.
Woods made four bogeys on the back nine while struggling to a 73 to miss the cut by one stroke, and eighth-ranked Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis missed the weekend by two shots after a 74.
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