Storm stops play as Day, Jones lead PGA

Matt Jones and Jason Day hold a share of the lead as weather stopped play in the second round of the US PGA Championship

Jason Day.

Australians Jason Day (pic) and Matt Jones share the lead at the US PGA Championship. (AAP)

It took a flash storm at Whistling Straits to stop the Australian charge as Jason Day and Matt Jones surged to the lead in the weather-delayed second round of the US PGA Championship.

The Australian pair were on fire and looked set to push to a solid advantage at the half-way point, only to be stopped in their tracks by a thunderstorm that knocked over scoreboards and wreaked havoc before forcing the suspension of play.

World No.5 Day and Jones are five under on their third rounds to push to nine under for the championship, one clear of England's Justin Rose (17 holes) at eight under.

Day has played 14 holes and has a 15-foot birdie attempt to come on the 15th green while Jones has negotiated 12 holes and sits in a fairway bunker on the right of the fourth fairway.

"I was in the zone a little bit so it was a bit of a shame we had to come off but it was the right decision," Day told AAP.

"It is a little unfortunate we have to come back and play extra holes tomorrow but it happened to me at the Open at St Andrews and I fared pretty well there so I just have to keep at it."

Day and Jones started two off the overnight lead but made their charge to give Australia hope of claiming a first major since the 2013 Masters and first PGA Championship since Steve Elkington won in 1995.

Day birdied the second, fifth and sixth, gave one back on the ninth before a run of three straight birdies from the 11th had the Queenslander charging.

Playing the back side first, Jones made birdies on the same three holes at 11, 12 and 13 before another on the tough 18th and then added one more on the second.

"I was rolling. I played really well. I've had a few more chances to make birdies that I missed out on, which would have been nice, but it's been a good round so far," Jones said.

Jordan Spieth earlier made a move towards his third major championship of the year as the world No.2 shot 67, to jump to six under.

Having already won the Masters and US Open this season, Spieth is gunning to become just the third player in history to win three of the four majors in one year, behind Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods.

Adam Scott will miss his first major cut since the 2011 US Open after a 75 left him at seven over for the week.

Cameron Smith made a nice charge with a 68 to get to two under in just his second major where he is joined by world No.1 Rory McIlroy (71).

John Senden shot 76 to fade to three over where he will likely miss the cut while Marc Leishman defied a back injury to shoot 68 but after a 79 on Thursday he is also three over.

Geoff Ogilvy is four over after 17 holes of round two while Steven Bowditch is done at five over.

Club professional Brett Jones won't be playing the weekend as he shot 78 to end at nine over.

Former world No.1 Tiger Woods sits at four over through 13 holes, needing to get at least two birdies early tomorrow to have a chance at further play.

Earlier in the day Japan's Hiroshi Iwata equalled the lowest score in a major with a 63, moving him to four under.


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Source: AAP


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