Skip Kendall ranks 106th on the tour in driving distance.

"It was a beautiful day out there today," said Kendall, speaking about his state of mind as much as he was about playing conditions.

"I just got off to a great start today, probably because I wasn't awake this morning," said Kendall, who teed off at 6:49 a.m. in the second group of the day after an opening-round 74.

"It was just a great day for me, and it was one of those rounds you really dream about, especially in a major."

Kendall, winless on the U.S. tour, has been coming on of late, with a second-place finish two weeks ago in Hartford and a tie for sixth earlier this summer at his hometown Greater Milwaukee Open.

His best chance to win came in 1998 at the Buick Invitational, where he lost a playoff to Scott Simpson.

Turning back the clock
Jack Nicklaus has Augusta National. Hale Irwin has Medinah.

The PGA Championship may represent the strongest field ever assembled for a major, but the 54-year-old Irwin looked like he was enjoying another banner day on the Senior Tour on Friday by working himself into contention after two rounds.

"It's the kind of course that I think elicits out of me my best golf," Irwin said after a 3-under 69, putting him at 139 going into the weekend.

Every time Medinah Country Club holds a major championship, Irwin seems to be around the lead.

Nine years ago, he became the oldest U.S. Open champion when he beat Mike Donald in a 19-hole playoff at Medinah. And in the 1975 U.S. Open at Medinah, Irwin missed the playoff by one stroke and finished in a tie for third. He probably would have been a factor in the 1949 U.S. Open, but he was only 4.

"I've had success here," Irwin said. "It's not as if I don't know the golf course. It's not as if this is a bad venue for me -- just the opposite. I feel comfortable playing the golf course."

Hurting their Ryder chances
Tom Lehman survived the cut Friday, greatly improving his chances of making the Ryder Cup without taking up one of the two captain's picks.

Lehman was 11th on the points list, behind Jeff Maggert, who shot a 76 Friday and did not make the weekend.

Also missing the cut were Steve Stricker and John Huston, who were 12th and 13th in the standings, meaning their chances of making the team on points are gone. They still have hopes of getting picked by captain Ben Crenshaw.

But two others who missed the cut -- Lee Janzen and Tim Herron -- will likely not make the team at all.

The top 10 in the standings -- based on points from top-10 finishes -- qualify. Crenshaw will announce his two wild-card selections Monday morning.

The Ryder Cup matches will be held Sept. 24-26 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.

On the other side
Jesper Parnevik is playing for more than the Wanamaker Trophy this week.

Parnevik, who is 11th on the European money list, is trying to play his way on to the European Ryder Cup team.

"That was my goal coming into the week," he said. "I'm not thinking about it when I'm playing, but I would like to qualify on my own. Definitely."

Parnevik started the week in 18th place in the European Ryder Cup standings. The top 10 players make it, and captain Mark James gets two additional picks.

Locker on loan
Mark Brooks is using the locker of a Medinah Country Club member by the name of Michael Jordan. Yes, that Michael Jordan.

"Is that what I'm in?" Brooks asked.

There was nothing in the locker from the retired basketball superstar wishing Brooks good luck.

"And nothing signed, either," Brooks said. "I'll probably leave him some balls. With this rough, he'll need them."

Glasson withdraws
Bill Glasson withdrew from the PGA Championship on Friday due to tightness in his back, tournament officials said.

Glasson, one of 15 players who did not complete the first round due to a weather delay Thursday, was 6-over after 15 holes when he withdrew before play Friday morning.