Casey: Still in contention
Paul Casey feels that every player who managed to make the cut at Oakland Hills is in with a chance of winning the USPGA Championship.
The Englishman finds himself seven strokes behind the halfway leader, American JB Holmes, after a second round of 74.
With the course proving tough and stiffening breezes expected to continue over the last two rounds, the final Major of the season looks set for an exciting finish.
Despite the sizeable gap, Casey considers himself in the hunt, using his seventh-placed finish at The Open after he only just managed to qualify for the weekend as a model for what can be achieved.
Chance
"I honestly think anyone making the cut right now has still got a chance," he said.
"Those going out in the morning with the better greens can post a number, and there is no reason why they can't get close to the lead.
"I was close to the cut at The Open and finished tied for seventh. I don't see why you can't do the same here.
"The guys at the top know how tough it can be - and while they have played great golf to get there, they need to play well to stay at the top."
Casey could well have been closer to the lead had it not been for three straight bogeys at the end of Friday's round, leaving him on six-over-par.
The late setbacks were disappointing for the Ryder Cup player, although he remains upbeat about his chances of claiming his first ever Major.
Nothing wrong
"I felt like I did nothing wrong the last few holes. I have gone from feeling I was right in the tournament at three over coming down the 16th," he said.
"I missed a couple of chances like the par-five 12th and a birdie chance on the 14th - which I let slide past the hole.
"Then all of a sudden a couple of misjudged putts - the greens are very tricky, and I thought the putts were good - left me with long par saves which both slid by as they are getting a bit spiky out there.
"Suddenly I am thinking about the cut, and that's how quickly it turns. That is really frustrating, because I felt I played really solid golf and focused well - and all of a sudden it is out of the window."
