This PGA Championship has turned into a measuring stick for Nick Price's greatness.
A bogey-free, 5-under-par 65 Friday at Southern Hills Country Club put Price at 8-under-par 132, the second-best 36-hole score ever in the PGA.And his five-stroke lead over Corey Pavin, Jay Haas and Ben Crenshaw going into today's third round was the largest ever at the midway point of this tournament.
"I don't know what's going to slow Nick down," Pavin said. "He's playing the best golf in the world right now. We are only halfway there, but he is certainly not the one I would want to be chasing."
Crenshaw, who prides himself in knowing a lot about the history of golf, had this assessment of Price.
"He's striking the ball as good as anyone since Ben Hogan or Byron Nelson," Crenshaw said. "He's a man in full flight."
If Price, the 37-year-old British Open champion, wins this tournament, it would make him the first since Tom Watson won the U.S. and British Opens in 1982 to take consecutive major championships, it would give him his third major in two years, and be his 16th victory worldwide in an incredible run that started when he won the 1992 PGA Championship.
A victory by the man who learned the game in Zimbabwe also would complete a sweep of the four major championships by non-Americans this year.
"The key to my success right now," Price said, "is that when I get over the shot I just try to do the best I can. I know it sounds simple, but I just have been very good at giving 100 percent to the next shot I have to play."
Indeed, he is playing so well that he has made the game that simple.
"The greens were softer and slower, and that allowed me to be a little more aggressive with my iron shots and also my putts," Price said.
"This is the position I want to be in," he said. "But there is still a lot of golf to play."
Price was not the only player to take advantage of softer, slower greens and slightly more forgiving pin placements.
Haas got into contention with a 66, despite a triple bogey on the ninth hole, and had a 30 on the back nine with a bogey on No. 18. Pavin and Crenshaw both shot 67, leaving the trio at 3-under-par 137.
Blaine McCallister missed the Southern Hills course record by one stroke with a 64 and was at 138, along with Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain, who shot a 66 on Friday, and John Cook, who shot a 67.
U.S. Open winner Ernie Els of South Africa and Frank Nobilo of New Zealand were seven strokes back at 139 along with Gil Morgan, Glenn Day, Phil Mickelson and Australian Craig Parry.
Ian Woosnam of Wales stumbled to a 72 and was at even par after 36 holes, along with England's Nick Faldo and Greg Norman of Australia.
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, tied with Price for the lead after the first round, faded badly, following his 67 with a 76 to be at 143. Tom Watson shot a 72 to fall to 1-over 141.
Fred Couples followed his first-round 68 with a 74, while Arnold Plamer, playing in his 37th and last PGA, shot a 74 and missed the cut with a 153.
Also missing the cut was defending champion Paul Azinger at 149 in his second turnament back since cancer treatments.
While others attacked the course, none did it as effortlessly as Price. And that about sums up the way his career has gone since he won the PGA in 1992.
"I think over the last two years I have been one of the three best players in the world," Price said. "I think this year Greg (Norman) and I have played better than anyone else."
Only two players have played the first 36 holes of the PGA Championship better than Price. Vijay Singh last year and Hal Sutton in 1983 finished the first two rounds at 131. Sutton won. Singh finished fourth.
And while four players have led the PGA by four strokes after 36 holes, no one has led by five.