Day 2at oak hill

Webb Simpson shot a 72 on Thursday that felt like a 64. Then he went out and shot an actual 64. Simpson, who was at 5 over after his first eight holes of the PGA Championship, surged into contention Friday with a 6-under 64. He was at 4 under overall, five strokes out of the lead. Four birdies on the back nine Thursday had left him feel far better about himself, and Friday that confidence grew, helped by three birdies on 10-12-foot putts. "I made the turn — I'm still trying to make the cut," he said. "It's amazing how a day like today, you go from outside the cut line, to just in, to going for the all-time major record. It's a big swing of emotions. But the mind is powerful, so I was just trying to not think about it."

"I think after 20 years, you do one stupid thing of each, and that's the first time I've ever done something like that. Now all I've got to do is figure out how to get DQ'd." — Woody Austin, who was penalized four strokes for having too many clubs in his bag. He said he couldn't decide whether he should keep his 3-iron or go with a hybrid, and he accidentally went with both. His 71 became a 75 and put him at 4-over 144. Rule 4-4 allows for only 14 clubs. The penalty is two shots for each hole the extra club is in the bag with a maximum of four shots. He found the extra club on his third hole.

Rory McIlroy already was 5 over for his round and appeared headed to another short week in a major. He finished with four birdies on the last eight holes, including a 40-foot putt from off the green, and achieved a first in his PGA Tour career. He made his first cut at a tournament when he was the defending champion. The sample size is small — this was only his fourth time as defending champ — but the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland was no less pleased. Considering the way his season has gone, he'll take even the most modest of victories. "I'm obviously standing up pretty happy about the day," McIlroy said after rallying for a 71 and an even-par total of 140. "Had a nice finish to the round. I was letting the round get away from me somewhat, but making four birdies on the last eight holes was nice to redeem the round a little bit."

John Daly made his fame first at a PGA Championship. Perhaps fame will also follow Kiradech Aphibarnrat from his first PGA Championship. That wouldn't be the only similarity between the two. Aphibarnrat has the build. He's listed at 5-10 and 210 pounds, but his agent says 260 is a better guess. And he grips it and rips it, as Daly always has. "I played with him two times," Aphibarnrat said. "He's a good guy, and we swing very similarly." And then there's the wardrobe. On Friday, a fuchsia shirt made Kiradech hard to miss. Aphibarnrat signed for a 1-over 71 Friday that left him 1 under.

• Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera withdrew because of an injured left wrist. Cabrera opened with a 10-over 80 and made it through 11 holes Friday before calling it quits.

• Hiroyuki Fujita has his own version of the Grand Slam. He is the only player to miss the cut in all four majors this year.

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