US PGA Championship - Day two digest

Shane Lowry launched a charge and Viktor Hovland stood out in the gloom in the second round of the US PGA Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday at Oak Hill.

Lowry's birdie blitz

When Shane Lowry was four over par after bogeying the difficult sixth hole, the Irishman's thought would solely have been on making the cut. Fast forward a couple of hours and he was in touch with the tournament leaders after a birdie at the eighth and an astonishing run of five in six holes from the 10th. Two closing bogeys dropped him back to level par but the birdie blitz served notice of what is possible as rain softens the fearsome Oak Hill course.

Nicolai wins the bragging rights

Ole Højgaard has been in attendance as a proud father, watching his twin sons Nicolai and Rasmus contest a major together for the first time in their careers. It was Nicolai who claimed the family bragging rights as five birdies on a blemish-free back nine saw him to three over par and safely inside the cut line. Rasmus followed up his opening 75 with a 74 to miss out.

Hovland rocks the Rickie look

Viktor Hovland surged to a share of the lead with an excellent round of 67 but his fashion choices continued to attract almost as much attention. The Norwegian's orange trousers and mostly white shirt - an inversion of Thursday's outfit - drew comparisons to fellow Oklahoma State alumnus Rickie Fowler's trademark look and while imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, Hovland was focused on the details. “Going to Oklahoma State, I like the orange," he said. "I think the orange here on the side was maybe a bit much, I would have just gone for a white shirt. Other than that, I think it's pretty sweet. The belt is pretty awesome. I heard a couple of guys in the crowd were yelling 'Go Rickie'. I guess, what's the expression? Impersonation is the biggest form of flattery or something."

Block makes waves

California club professional Michael Block finds himself sharing the final place in the top ten with Major Champions Lowry, Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley, among others, after a second successive level-par 70. The 46-year-old, playing his fifth US PGA as one of 20 club pros in the field, was three under through five holes of his second round and though he dropped three shots at the fourth and fifth on his inward nine, he was still dreaming of contending. “I am having a great time,” he said. “I feel like I’ve got the game this week to compete, to tell you the truth. I’ve made the cut, which is obviously a huge goal. I feel like I could shoot even par out here every day. Why not come here and compete?"

No putter required for Fleetwood

Tommy Fleetwood made the cut at three over par and while the Englishman may not contend for the title, he did produce this moment of magic at the 17th...