The wind has picked up a bit for the Thursday afternoon wave at Kiawah Island, but good scoring conditions remain as the second half of the field tries to chase down the low numbers posted during the morning. Adam Scott is one of those players in red figures as he makes his way through the back nine.
2012 PGA Championship Leaderboard: Adam Scott Playing Well Again, Phil Mickelson At Even-Par
Scott is, of course, trying to rebound from that devastating collapse down the stretch at Lytham. He’s tried to put a positive spin on it all week, saying that those first 68 holes at the Open Championship were probably the best golf he’s played in his life. It seems to be working, and his solid form has held at The Ocean Course. Scott is 3-under through 14 holes, carding birdies at the holes you have to get on this Pete Dye classic -- the (relatively) easier first two holes and the par-5s.
Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano is also making a charge in the afternoon, posting a 67 to open his week along the Atlantic Ocean to sit at 5-under, one shot back of leader Carl Pettersson. He had a birdie putt stop just short of the hole on No. 18 to remain one shot off the pace. For many, Fernandez-Castano is only known as the player who mildly called out Tiger Woods in advance of their match at the WGC-Accenture Match Play event. But he’s still one of the best players in the world, capable of winning the season’s final major.
Phil Mickelson’s struggles persist, as the lefty has had yet another up-and-down round. Mickelson went on a few expeditions through the dunes and waste areas that line the fairways. At one point, it even appeared like he may have injured his hand trying to chop one out and get back on the paspalum. He has carded three bogeys and three birdies so far to stand at even-par through 13 holes. The toughest stretch of the course awaits, however, and Mickelson will have to avoid big numbers on the 13th and 14th to try and keep his round together.
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