Overview
- Ludvig Åberg surged to 12 under with a second‑round 63 that included two eagles, opening a two‑shot gap over Xander Schauffele at 10 under, with Cameron Young at 9 under and Corey Conners and Justin Thomas at 8 under.
- Defending champion Rory McIlroy, managing a recent back issue, birdied his final hole for a one‑under 71 to make the cut at one over, matching Scottie Scheffler who also birdied the last to extend his made‑cut streak.
- Collin Morikawa withdrew after one hole on Thursday due to sudden back discomfort, trimming the event’s elite field.
- Heavy rain and fading light delayed the Round 1 finish, yielding an early five‑way lead at five under that included Austin Smotherman before Round 2 proceeded on schedule.
- Tournament officials removed spectators for heckling during McIlroy’s second round, underscoring a tense day at the Stadium Course.