It was cut day at the PGA Championship, with two unexpected names taking the lead at Aronimink Golf Club.
Through two days at Aronimink Golf Club, it was two upstart challengers sharing the PGA Championship lead. Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley each closed the first 36 holes with a -4 scorecard.
Smalley went -1 on Thursday to secure his slim lead from the opening round, while McNealy shot -3 to shoot up the leaderboard and knot things up at the top.
Both young challengers are seeking not only their first PGA Championship win but their first major championship title in their careers. As if the pair could not be more linked, their previous best finish at the tournament was tied for 23rd.
Outside of the two co-leaders, there was movement throughout the round, as golfers vied to scrap for position heading into the weekend or fought to even make the cut in Pennsylvania.
Part of a sizable cluster right on the heels of McNealy and Smalley, Hideki Matsuyama went from even-par to three-under after a strong performance on Friday. Not looking to be overshadowed, Chris Gotterup turned a +2 score into a -3 following a blistering -5 round, which was the best score of the day.
Fresh off a win at the Cadillac Championship, Cameron Young sat at -2 amongst another large group of golfers, including two former PGA Championship winners.
Two-time winner Justin Thomas had identical -1 rounds on both of the opening days to keep pace in the field. Meanwhile, defending tournament champion Scottie Scheffler went +1 in a rare down round but stayed firmly in the mix for back-to-back titles in a tightly packed leaderboard.
If Scheffler turns things around over the weekend and hoists the Wanamaker Trophy once again, he will become seventh golfer to notch consecutive titles and only the third in the modern era, with Tiger Woods (1999-2000, 2006-07) and Brooks Koepka (2018-19) achieving the feat.
Another golfer looking to make history over the weekend made the road to the top a bit harder. Jordan Spieth is attempting again to earn the ever-so elusive career grand slam with the PGA Championship title. He had a strong opening round at -1 but went +2 on Friday to knock him down the standings. It is not impossible for Spieth to come back but it appears that his chance at golf immortality will be denied one more time.
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There were a few notable names that won't even have the chance to right the ship, as they missed the cut following Friday's round. Arguably the most notable of these removals was Bryson DeChambeau, who entered another major after a disappointing exit from the Masters by missing the cut. His fortunes did not change at Aronimink, with a +7 score to go home early yet again.
With still 36 holes left to play and a razor-thin margin separating several of the best golfers, it is shaping up to be anyone's tournament for the taking.