Viktor Hovland says he has the “tools” to win his first main title, Corey Conners has confidence from an April triumph, and Scottie Scheffler has already received a significant.
That’s why every of the co-leaders after Friday’s second spherical of the PGA Championship figures he has a very good likelihood to carry a trophy Sunday at Oak Hill.
World quantity two Scheffler, final yr’s Masters champion, and Canada’s Conners fired two-under-par 68s whereas Norway’s Eleventh-ranked Hovland closed with a birdie to shoot 67 and match them for the 36-hole lead on five-under 135.
“I find myself comfortable in these situations. These are the positions I want to be in. I want to be near the lead,” Scheffler stated.
“I’m excited to be in a good position going into the weekend. With that being said, I’m going to keep my head down and keep doing what I’m doing.”
Conners captured his second PGA Tour title eventually month’s Texas Open and contended on the Masters from 2020 to 2022 earlier than settling for top-10 outcomes.
“Just getting experience in the situation is helpful,” Conners stated of the trophy battle. “Winning in Texas a little over a month ago, take a lot from that. Lots of confidence in my game. Feel good, and having fun out there.”
Hovland feels he’s prepared for a significant breakthrough after sharing fourth in final yr’s British Open and seventh final month on the Masters.
“I believe I have all the tools in the bag. I just have to go out there and execute,” Hovland stated.
“The ball-striking is definitely there. Putting, anything can happen and I feel like a lot of the short game work that I’ve been doing the last couple of months are starting to show a little bit.”
Wisdom from expertise can be in Hovland’s device package.
“I haven’t done great in the majors that I’ve played before. I’ve had some nice top-15 finishes and stuff like that, but I haven’t quite been in contention,” he stated.
“I think that has been because I’ve just been a little bit young and stupid, just going after some pins that I’m not supposed to go for even though I’m feeling good about my ball-striking.”
“Then you make bogey or double and you just can’t do that in major championship golf. You just have to wear out center of the green. If that putter gets hot, you can make some birdies.”
Scheffler has a lot the identical concept, be good and keep near the highest.
“When you can kind of hang around the lead and stay in position and hopefully wait to get hot, it’s a good position to be in,” Scheffler stated. “I’m hoping to hit a few more fairways, make it a little easier on myself, but ultimately, 2-under is a good round around this place.”
– ‘One swing away’ -Scheffler stated it’s tough to maintain a constructive angle after a poor gap.
“It’s very challenging, but I feel like on a golf course like this, I’m one swing away from getting everything back together,” he stated.
“You get rewarded for good shots out here and if you execute, you can birdie pretty much any hole.”
Hovland will attempt to hold his focus even with a dream aim so close to his grasp.
“These tournaments are what you dream about winning and you practice so hard to play in,” he stated. “It’s exciting, but you have to focus on every single shot you’re hitting.”