Jhonattan Vegas Holds Lead at PGA Championship Despite Strong Contenders

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The second round of the 2025 PGA Championship concluded Friday, with unexpected leaders throughout the board. Jhonattan Vegas, a 40-year-old golfer previously untested at major tournaments, now holds a two-stroke lead heading into the weekend.

After shooting an impressive 1-under 70, Vegas leads with a score of 8-under overall. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler trails him at 5-under following consecutive rounds of solid play. Scheffler acknowledged the challenges of a long tournament but expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying, “I did a good job of responding to those mistakes today and keeping myself in the tournament.”

Vegas has gained attention partly due to his remarkable backstory. Originally from Venezuela, he moved to the U.S. to pursue golf after political upheaval threatened his love for the game. Progressing through local ranks, he secured a scholarship to the University of Texas, eventually turning professional and claiming his first PGA Tour win in 2011.

Despite his lead, Vegas is not the tournament favorite, with Data Golf giving him only a 9.4% chance of winning. In contrast, Scheffler’s chances stand at 23.4%. Other contenders include Si Woo Kim, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Bryson DeChambeau, all looking to capitalize on any mistakes from Vegas heading into the third round.

While Vegas struggled somewhat with his putting in the second round, losing strokes on the green, his skills tee to green remained strong. He reflected, “I feel like my game is very complete, but I just haven’t been able to put it all together in a major.”

Max Homa and Jon Rahm are also in the mix, both shooting under par. Rahm described his recent form positively: “I think I’m in good position… I made a lot of good swings out there today.”

The tournament continues with increased watchfulness as players tee off early Saturday due to potential weather disruptions. CBS and ESPN will provide coverage, with the action anticipated to heat up over the weekend.