Thomas: Too early to talk PGA win | Scheffler to miss cut after nightmare finish

Justin Thomas refused to get carried away about the possibility of ending his major drought at the PGA Championship, despite setting the clubhouse target in testing conditions on day two.

Thomas, whose sole major victory came when he won the Wanamaker Trophy at Quail Hollow in 2017, carded a second consecutive three-under 67 - in winds gusting up to 40mph - to move to six under and a shot ahead of overnight leader Rory McIlroy.

The former world No 1 started Friday two shots off the pace but quickly pulled level with McIlroy - one of the afternoon starters - when he birdied two of his opening four holes, only to fail to get up and down from a greenside bunker to save par at the par-three 14th.

Thomas ended a run of pars with a brilliant 25-foot birdie at the fifth and added another from ten feet on his final hole to regain the solo advantage, with this week's event the first time the American has ever started a major with back-to-back rounds of 67 or better.

"(I'm) very pleased," Thomas told reporters after his round. "Although I played solid yesterday, I played really, really well today. The conditions were obviously very difficult.

"I stayed very patient, tried to get in my own little world and get in a zone and just tried to execute each shot the best I could. I felt we did a great job of that and am glad to have a good round to show for it.

"We're halfway through so it's still a long way from home, but I'm very, very pleased with where everything is at and the frame of mind and state of mind that I'm in. I just need to try to maintain that the best that I can and keep trying to play good golf."

Video: Tiger Woods Feeling 'Stronger' Ahead Of PGA Championship (The Independent)

Matt Fitzpatrick sits three behind Thomas