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The only thing clear after two days of fog-induced havoc at the PGA Championship is that Matt Kuchar is playing very, very well.
Kuchar ran off three straight birdies on the back nine to get to 8 under Friday. That gave him a two-stroke lead, though half the field hadn't even made it onto the course by mid-afternoon after fog delayed resumption of the first round by almost three hours.
Bryce Molder and 19-year-old Noh Seung-yul were doing their part to hold up the season's tradition of unknowns making big runs at the majors, both getting to 6 under. Dustin Johnson, best known for his meltdown at Pebble Beach, was also at 6 under.
The big names were either holding steady (Ernie Els) or spraying their way around the course (Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker).
Despite the wacky weather, Kuchar was proof that decent scores were available on the 7,514-yard, links-style monster. Maybe that was a good sign for Tiger Woods, who finished his first round at an encouraging 1-under 71 and had to wait until dinnertime to begin a second round he certainly wouldn't complete by sundown.
Bubba Watson and Francesco Molinari, whose 68s gave them the clubhouse lead before the first round was suspended for darkness Thursday night, also had late tee times Friday.
"It's testing us for sure, you're playing a very big golf course and you know you're going to have delays," said Els, who got as low as 5 under on his first nine. "You've just got to try to stay in the present and play every shot as it comes. Not try to get to ahead of yourself, I guess."
