Illini product Points rides second-round seesaw

HAVEN, Wisc. - For a couple of minutes Friday, D.A. Points found himself in second place in the 92nd PGA Championship courtesy of 3 birdies in his first six holes.

"I got up and down for birdie got me to 5 under and I knew I was close (to the leaders)," Points said. "But there's so much golf left that it didn't make me excited or nervous or anything like that."

He wasn't there long though because 3 bogeys and a double to end the day on No. 18 pushed the University of Illinois product down a few notches on the leaderboard by the time things settled down late Friday.

"It was a tough go, but I guess 2 under after two rounds at a place I've never been before - I'm not too disappointed," said Points, who made some headlines in late July by flirting with a 59 at the Greenbrier Classic before winding up with a 61. "I made the weekend and I'm certainly not out of it.

"I'm 6 back right now. If I can start hitting it well ... my putter feels so good - I'll be in good shape."

While Points will stick around for the weekend, Illinois golf coach Mike Small will be heading home after finishing up his two rounds at 8 over.

"I played like I've played all summer," Small said. "Today my putting was atrocious ... it was terrible."

Major player: Nick Watney's play this week in a major championship should come as no surprise, considering he was seventh at The Masters and tied for seventh in the Open Championship earlier this year.

"I'm doing a much better job of mentally preparing for rounds," said Watney, who is 7 under after his 68 on Friday. "I've played with major champions. I've played with guys that have won many, many tournaments, and I've been trying to learn from them, what makes them great and what makes them champions. So, hopefully I can apply some of that."

Compare and contrast: In the 2004 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits there were 39 players under par after the first round. After this year's first round was finally completed on Friday, 43 players were below par.

The scoring average in the first round in 2004 was 73.34 compared to 73.56 this year.

Always a first: If Matt Kuchar maintains his lead after the completion of the second round, it would mark the first time he has led after any round of a major championship.