Staff Reporter.
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Phil Mickelson heads into the weekend with a share of the lead at the US PGA Championship as he looks to become the oldest player to win a major title.
The 50-year-old sits level with South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen at five under par on Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course.
Mickelson, eyeing a first major win in eight years, made five birdies in his final nine holes for a three-under 69.
Two-time winner Brooks Koepka is one back, with Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama one of three at three under.
Oosthuizen looked set to be the only player not to drop a shot during the second round on the longest course in major championship history as he approached the 18th in the lead at six under par.
But the 2010 Open champion hit his second through the back of the green and that resulted in his first bogey of the day as he signed for a 68.
“I played nicely,” said Oosthuizen. “My whole game is really felling good. It has been a long time working on my putting and short game and I am where I want to be.”
Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy finished with three successive bogeys to leave himself at three over par for the tournament.
Ian Poulter had earlier edged his way into the mix before fading to finish at level par. Fellow Englishman Paul Casey is two under while Scotland’s Martin Laird is a shot further back.
South African Branden Grace was among the early starters and he led until he sent his tee shot at the daunting 223-yard par-three 17th into the water on his way to making a double bogey and he then bogeyed the 18th to slip to three under.
Matsuyama is also at three under par after a bogey at the last took the gloss off his second-round 68.
Just 18 players are under par following the opening two rounds on the blustery South Carolina coastal course but 24 are within five shots of the joint leaders.