Fitzpatrick joint second as McIlroy just makes PGA cut

Matt Fitzpatrick ripped up the form book to move into contention for a second major title as Masters champion Rory Mcllroy narrowly avoided an early exit from the 107th PGA Championship.

- PHIL CASEY

Fitzpatrick has slumped from eighth in the world rankings at the beginning of last year to his current position of 85th and admitted after an opening 68 there were times this season he did not want to be competing.

However, the 2022 US Open champion, who sacked caddie Billy Foster in March in an attempt to turn the corner, added another 68 at Quail Hollow yesterday to lie just two shots off the halfway lead held by Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas.

Matthieu Pavon and Si Woo Kim were alongside Fitzpatrick on six under, Kim making a hole-in-one from 252 yards on the sixth in his 64, with world number one Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa – who also shot 64 – another stroke back.

McIlroy bogeyed the final two holes to add a 69 to his opening 74 and make the cut with nothing to spare on one over par, alongside playing partner and defending champion Xander Schauffele.