Play suspended at blustery Straits

Kohler, Wisconsin : American Matt Kuchar made the most of a timely break in the inclement weather to grab the clubhouse lead in the second round of the US PGA Championship on Friday.

Kuchar added a 69 to his opening round of 67 to reach the halfway stage at eight under par and leading by one shot from his countryman Nick Watney, who carded a 68, with a group of seven players, including Britain's Rory McIlroy and South Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul, two shots further back at five-under.

Exactly half of the 156-player field, including world number one Tiger Woods, failed to finish their second rounds after spending most of the day cooling their heels following another delayed start at the Whistling Straits course that hugs the coastline of Lake Michigan.

Almost six hours were lost on the first two days because of the thick blanket of fog each morning, leaving tournament organisers scrambling to get the last major of the year back on schedule.

Tough conditions

Kuchar was among the 78 players who had to complete their opening rounds early on Friday morning but then got the benefit of going straight back out to play their second rounds before the wind picked up late in the afternoon.

"This is certainly a great place to be," said Kuchar, whose best finish at a major was tied for sixth at this year's US Open. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to really do something great this weekend."

Britain's Simon Khan briefly joined Kuchar at eight under but bogeyed the last three holes to slip back to a tie for third and leave Watney as Kuchar's closest challenger.

"The course really showed teeth today," Khan said.

South Africa's Ernie Els also had trouble at the end of his round, finishing with a double bogey to end on two under.

"It's not how you want to finish. It was a difficult day," said Els. "I scrambled quite well here and there but just let it go at the end there."

US Masters champion Phil Mickelson had an up and down day, struggling to find the fairway, but holed some long putts for a 69 to join Els at two under.

"I just want to be in a position where if I play like I know I can, I can make up some ground," he said. "And I feel like I'm within striking dis tance."

Woods, who shot 71 on the opening day, made a solid start to his second round, scrambling to par his first six holes to remain at one under when play was suspended because of fading light.

"It was tough out there, blowing pretty good, had to be very patient," Woods said. "I had to hang in there and did a good job with that. Unfortunately I missed a short one [putt] there at the last one I played but other than that, it was all right."

American Jason Dufner shot a superb 66, the lowest completed round of the championship, to join Bryce Molder (67), Dustin Johnson (68), Zach Johnson (70), McIlroy, Khan and Noh at five-under.

RESULTS

PGA Championship, second round (78 of 156 players did not finish):

136 - Matt Kuchar (USA) 67-69

137 - Nick Watney (USA) 69-68

139 - Bryce Molder (USA) 72-67, Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 68-71, Jason Dufner (USA) 73-66, Dustin Johnson (USA) 71-68, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71-68, Zach Johnson (USA) 69-70, Simon Khan (GBR) 69-70

140 - Chad Campbell (USA) 70-70

141 - Carl Pettersson (SWE) 71-70

142 - D.A. Points (USA) 70-72, Shaun Micheel (USA) 73-69, Ernie Els (RSA) 68-74, Phil Mickelson (USA) 73-69, Peter Hanson (SWE) 71-71, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 71-71, Simon Dyson (GBR) 71-71

143 - Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 72-71, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) 70-73, Tim Clark (RSA) 72-71

144 - Darren Clarke (NIR) 74-70, Tom Lehman (USA) 74-69, Steve Stricker (USA) 72-72

145 - Fredrik Andersson (SWE) 74-71, Heath Slocum (USA) 73-72, Brandt Snedeker (USA) 75-70, Jeff Overton (USA) 74-71, Adam Scott (AUS) 72-73, Kevin Na (USA) 74-71, Hunter Mahan (USA) 74-71, Ross McGowan (GBR) 73-72

146 - Boo Weekley (USA) 76-70, Tim Thelen (USA) 71-75, Chris Wood (GBR) 78-68, Kenny Perry (USA) 73-73, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 71-75, Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 71-75, Kevin Stadler (USA) 74-72