BRYSON DECHAMBEAU SNAPS DRIVER ON SEVENTH-HOLE TEE SHOT AT PGA CHAMPIONSHIP.

While that remains open to debate, the fun-loving 25-year-old is definitely the first Chinese player to hold the lead after any round in a major championship, thanks to a bogey-free 65 Friday that left him two shots clear of the field at 8-under 132.

Any doubts Li has enough guts or firepower to contend on the weekend at a toughening TPC Harding Park course should have been vaporized when posted shot 63 in the final round of the British Open over a similarly cool, windy Royal Birkdale layout three years ago to finish third.

Brooks Koepka, the two-time defending champion, a surging Jason Day, the first round co-leader, and Tommy Fleetwood, who carded the low round of 64, were among the half-dozen golfers at 6-under.

After an opening round 68 put him within shouting distance of the lead, Tiger Woods skidded to a 72 and a tie for 44th.

The longer putter Woods credited for his success Thursday may be headed to the trunk of his rental car for the weekend after the total length of the putts he made dropped precipitously from 115 feet to just 48 in round two.

On at least three occasions during his round, Kopeka lay down on the grass and called over a trainer to loosen up the muscles on his left side.

McIlroy, a two-time PGA Championship winner, got the shot back by running off four birdies in a row, then gave that back with a triple-bogey at No.

That was at least three hours after Li had completed his own round