PGA Championship: Jhonattan Vegas Holds Two-Stroke Lead After Storm Delay

Jhonattan Vegas holds a two-stroke lead at the PGA Championship after a storm-delayed third round, with major champions making a charge at Quail Hollow.

Jhonattan Vegas teed off Saturday with a two-stroke lead in the PGA Championship's third round, which was delayed due to storms at Quail Hollow. The 40-year-old Venezuelan held a share of the lead at eight-under 134 after 36 holes.

Jhonattan Vegas was tied in second place with Matt Fitzpatrick, Kim Si-woo, and Matthieu Pavon, who were all at six-under. Despite his lead, Vegas has yet to finish in the top 20 in any of his 16 major starts.

For the first time since the 1913 US Open, no Americans were among the top four at a major after 36 holes on US soil. World number one Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa tied for fifth place at five-under 137, aiming to keep alive the streak of nine consecutive US winners at the PGA Championship.

Jhonattan Vegas, ranked 70th, took the lead after a remarkable 64 on Thursday, carding birdies on five of his last six holes. He maintained his top spot on Friday with a 70, despite a double bogey near the end.

A severe thunderstorm delayed the start of the third round, prompting organizers to reschedule for 11:43 a.m. and group players in trios off the first and 10th tees in an effort to complete the round before sunset.

The rain-soaked Quail Hollow course proved favorable for past major winners, with birdies coming early despite windy conditions. Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion, birdied the first and third holes with impressive putts, reaching four-under before dropping a shot at the sixth hole.

Reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau also got off to a strong start, sinking a 30-foot birdie putt on the first hole to reach four-under.

The top of the leaderboard as we head into the weekend at Quail Hollow ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/lSoF9uu5Jp

— Golfbet (@Golfbet) May 16, 2025

Ryo Hisatsune made an impressive shot, holing out from 39 feet in a bunker at the par-three fourth hole to reach four-under. Alex Noren also reached four-under after a birdie at the second hole.

The start of the round was delayed due to a morning storm, affecting players like world number two Rory McIlroy and defending champion Xander Schauffele as they were en route to the first tee.

Due to the storm delay, the golfers teed off 5 hours and 13 minutes later than scheduled, starting from the 10th tee in redrawn groups. Jhonattan Vegas, who held a two-stroke lead, began his third round alongside American Chris Kirk.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and defending champion Xander Schauffele, also the reigning British Open champion, barely made the cut with a score of 143. This put them nine strokes behind Vegas, who sits comfortably at eight-under 134. Notably, McIlroy has a strong record at Quail Hollow, having won four times and holding the course record of 61.