Dufner breaks course record but Rose and Scott are primed

Jason Dufner dominated the headlines on day two at the US PGA Championship following his stunning score of 63 that gave him a two shot lead in upstate New York.

Dufner’s formidable round meant they were re-writing the record books at Oak Hill, having surpassed the course record 64 set by Ben Hogan in 1942 and equalled by Curtis Strange 47 years later.

If not for a tame putt on the 18th, however, Dufner could have been troubling more than just the records in New York. Had he holed his 12ft putt on the last, he would have gone down as the first man to shoot 62 in a major championship.

Nonetheless he’ll find some consolation in the fact that his score of nine under leaves him perched at the top of the leaderboard heading into day three, and is the 4/1 favourite to record his first major following several recent near misses.

Dufner wasn’t the only player taking advantage of slick greens following the early morning rain. Webb Simpson (25/1) shot 64 – the course record until his fellow American Dufner changed all that – while Justin Rose shot 29 on the back nine, the lowest at the course since 1995.

Matt Kuchar (7/1) and Jim Furyk (10/1) are tied in second place on seven under, as is Aussie Adam Scott, whose odds of 9/2 to overhaul Dufner’s lead reflect his fine form since winning his maiden major at Augusta in April. He also led late on at the US Open last month before his close friend and current playing partner Rose went on to claim the title at Merion.

And at 7/1, Rose looks an even better pick halfway through at Oak Hill.

The Englishman also has momentum on his side and has his eye on a second major of the season – and his career – following his imperious back nine score that showed the grit and steel he is becoming renowned for after a wobbly front nine in tough conditions saw him lying seven shots behind Scott.

At six under, Rose lies three shots off the lead and should he continue his near-flawless form tee to green, he’s a tempting pick to become only the fifth player to win the US Open and USPGA in the same season.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.