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2016 PGA Championship: Henrik Stenson takes lead, four-way tie for second

By Gethin Coolbaugh, The Sports Xchange
Henrik Stenson of Sweeden lines up a putt on the 7th hole in the second round at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey on July 29, 2016. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 4 | Henrik Stenson of Sweeden lines up a putt on the 7th hole in the second round at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey on July 29, 2016. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Henrik Stenson of Sweden shot a 3-under-par 67 Friday to move to 6-under overall and claim a one-shot early lead at the 98th PGA Championship on the Lower Course at Baltusrol Golf Club.

Martin Kaymer of Germany shot a 69 in Friday's second round to rise into four-way tie for second with Patrick Reed, Emiliano Grillo of Argentina and 18-hole leader Jimmy Walker at 5-under.

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Stenson, the world's No. 5 ranked player, got off to a rocky start with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 12-13 -- his third and fourth holes, respectively.

However, the 40-year-old eagled the par-5, 554-yard No. 18 and sprinkled three birdies over his final nine.

A combined 16-time winner on the PGA and European Tours, Stenson is two weeks removed from his first career major victory at The Open Championship.

Stenson entered the weekend ranked 15th in the FedExCup standings (1,293) and 14th on the money list ($3,072,923).

Reed, who will represent the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August, had the low round among the morning players with a 65.

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Reed's second-round score matched Walker's opening 65 as the lowest mark of the tournament. Reed managed to do so despite a pair of bogeys but made up for them with seven birdies.

Phil Mickelson watches Jordan Spieth tee off in a practice round at the PGA Championship. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI.
Third-ranked Jordan Spieth jumped into contention with a 67, three shots better than he opened, and is at 3-under.

The 23-year-old Dallas native was sharp early with five birdies opposite one bogey on his first nine holes, but Spieth cooled off with a bogey and eight pars to close.

Spieth, an eight-time PGA Tour winner, is seeking his third career major victory and his first at the PGA Championship.

Dustin Johnson's streak of making 25 consecutive cuts at PGA Tour events will come to an end after his 72 Friday, which followed a disastrous two double-bogey 77 Thursday. Johnson is 9-over.

The top 70 plus ties will make the cut for the weekend, which as of 3 p.m. Friday was projected to be 2-over.

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