Adam Scott has continued his quest for a second major of the year by pushing into the sole lead midway through the second round of the PGA Championship.
Masters champion Scott backed up his opening round 65 with a two-under-par 68 in continuous rain to move to seven-under for the championship, one clear of US Open champion Justin Rose.
Rose shot a 66 with a brilliant 29 on the front side of the course to hold second alone.
Overnight co-leader Jim Furyk sits at five-under as he prepares to go out in much easier softer conditions without rain in the afternoon.
Webb Simpson equalled the course record with a 64 to push up into a tie for fifth at four-under.
Jason Day started quickly and at one point shared the lead but faded to a 71 to be two-under and five shots off the pace.
Scott could have easily fashioned a huge lead but missed several important short putts.
“I felt like if I was really hot with the putter I could have been a fair bit better off,” Scott said.
Scott opened his account on the 10th hole, his first of the round, by chipping in for birdie.
He missed a birdie chance on the 12th but coaxed in a birdie putt from 15 feet on the 13th to be out in front alone at seven-under.
The 33-year-old then lipped out a short birdie putt at the 15th but buried his next chance on the 16th to move three clear at the top.
Sadly he didn’t keep the foot down and missed a short par putt on the 17th to drop a shot.
A missed chance from inside 20 feet on 18 was somewhat forgotten when he drained a 45 foot birdie bomb on the second hole to once again be three clear.
But a missed green on the par three third led to a bogey.
Another birdie came for the Queenslander on the sixth hole before he dropped his final shot on the seventh, forcing him to settle for the round of 68.
Marcus Fraser will head out in the afternoon wave at three-under par with a golden opportunity to push up the leaderboard.
Brett Rumford couldn’t back up his reasonable round one form, shooting a 77 to be heading for a missed cut at seven-over.
Geoff Ogilvy fired a second consecutive 74 to be eight-over and also out of the mix.
Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and John Senden are out in the afternoon looking to make the cut.
