The PGA Championship leaderboard doesn't have Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or Rory McIlroy anywhere near the top. Going into the weekend, the likes of Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Scott Verplank and D.A. Points are leading the way instead.
The top of the PGA Championship leaderboard is lacking in star power and major names at the moment. Woods didn't even make the cut while Mickelson is at +1 overall and an injured McIlroy barely made the cut at +3.
This tournament is now being controlled by players that few may have heard of before. But that should change if Keegan Bradley and Jason Dufner are still tied for the lead on Sunday. They are both on top going into Saturday at -5 while Verplank, Points and John Senden are among those at -4.
The most recognizable player on top of the PGA Championship leaderboard is Jim Furyk at -4. Furyk won his only major at the 2003 U.S. Open, although he also won the FedEx Cup just last year.
First round leader Steve Stricker is still in range - in spite of shooting a 74 after his record-tying 63 on Thursday. Adam Scott looked ready to make a run on Friday until he double bogeyed the 18'th hole and fell to -2 overall. Davis Love III and Lee Westwood are at -1 and hoping to move up on Saturday.
These are the most recognizable names that are within striking distance of the leaders. That doesn't seem likely to give them an advantage, as unknown golfers have tended to win majors more than the stars have lately. No one foresaw Charl Schwartzel winning the Masters this past April or Darren Clarke taking the British Open last month.
Nowadays the likes of Schwartzel, Clarke, Bradley, Dufner and Verplank are more likely to win a major than Woods or Mickelson. In that regard the PGA Championship leaderboard doesn't look that surprising - although there is still time for other unknowns and newcomers to make a run this weekend.
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