Rose blooms at US PGA while Scheffler, Conners and Hovland share lead

This has the makings of a huge season for Justin Rose. Victory at the US PGA Championship would add to the existing sense he is a golfer on a mission to make up for lost time.

A decade has passed since Rose took delivery of his solitary major title thus far, the US Open. The more pertinent timescale is the four years that passed between victories at the Farmers Insurance Open and the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in early February. Rose, who had been the world No 1 in 2018, was not even deemed worthy of a captain’s pick for Europe’s 2021 Ryder Cup team.

It feels like no coincidence that the biennial clash is coming into view once more, with Rose determined to prove tales of his demise have been hugely exaggerated. Luke Donald would surely love to call on Rose’s experience as Europe attempt to wrestle the Ryder Cup back from the grasp of the United States.

A second round of 70 at Oak Hill – Rose had earlier completed his delayed round one in 69 shots – leaves the Englishman well positioned at one under par. Rose has plenty of previous for prevailing when the challenge is stern, as is definitely the case in Rochester.

Matching 68s from Scottie Scheffler and Corey Conners meant they led the tournament at five under until Viktor Hovland carded a 67 to join them. Bryson DeChambeau continues to lurk with intent, at minus three. So too does Brooks Koepka at two-under. Rory McIlroy crashed home a birdie putt on the 18th for a 69, which leaves him within five of the lead. Game on.

“I thought four under par would be the winning score before the tournament started,” said Rose. “There was going to be a couple of days that were pretty windy. It’s very hard to hit the ball in the fairway.

“Historically I’ve won typically on harder golf courses