McIlroy drives to the front at windy Kiawah

Rory McIlroy’s curls are a lot curlier, but the sparkle continues in his game on a brutal second day of the 94th PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

On a day better suited for flying kites or wind-surfing, it was a case of battening down the hatches and holding on as near 35mph winds buffeted the exposed Ocean Course.

However in an Irish first at the Majors for some time, all five South Carolina starters will play all four rounds of the season’s final Major.

Heading the five is World No3 Rory McIlroy who, despite dropping four shots in 13 holes, regrouped with birdies at 14 and 16, either side of a 15-hole dropped shot.

McIlroy walked from the course with a three over par 75 to be among the leading six players at two under par. While history will record McIlroy’s round as his highest in 14 rounds of the PGA Championship the average score on day two was closer to 77.

“It was tough going out, but then you play six to 13 and right into the wind, and you just find yourself needing a little time to adjust to the changing directions,” said McIlroy.

“I have hit low balls into that wind and I lost a few to the right early on to make a couple of bogeys, but once I got into the inward nine, it was nice to make a couple of birdies.

“It was both a physically hard and mentally tough round, but I am looking forward very much to the weekend.

“I’m only a few back and that makes it exciting.”

Fellow US Open winner, Graeme McDowell questioned a number of pin placements after his round of 76 that had him sharing 13th place at level par.

Also signing for a 76 was former PGA champion Padraig Harrington, but confessing after falling back to two over par that he doubted if he would now qualify for next month’s Ryder Cup in Medinah.

Fellow Major winner, Darren Clarke set about ending a dismal run in the PGA Championship and like his Irish compatriots, warming to the tough windy conditions. Clarke continued the 76 theme with his four over second-round tally, including birdies at the fifth and sixth holes but then five bogeys in his last 10 holes.

“I was loving it out there,” said Clarke. “I was two-under and cruising along, then hit a couple of poor ones, short-sided myself in the wrong place.

“Went for the TV up-and-down, a stupid silly flop shot that was a spin, and all of a sudden it was, try and hang on, but the finish is certainly tough.

“But this golf course is designed for a little bit of wind and that’s what we’ve got.

“I don’t know what it will play like, with that really strong wind.”

Clarke has contested the PGA Championship on 13 prior occasions, but missed the halfway cut in all but four with his best finish being ninth a dozen years ago.

And fellow Ulsterman Michael Hoey celebrated his first PGA appearance also making the cut and superbly turning around a horror 78 on Thursday with a second day 70 of three birdies and, amazingly, just one bogey.