Open champion Henrik Stenson recovered from a poor start to boost his bid for back-to-back major titles as the cream rose to the top of the leaderboard in the US PGA Championship.

After starting on the 10th following a 41-minute delay due to a waterlogged course, Stenson began his second round two shots off the lead before three-putting the 12th and 13th.

However, the 40-year-old Swede responded in superb fashion by hitting his 257-yard approach to the 18th to three feet to set up an eagle, before picking up birdies on the first and third.

That took the world number five into a share of the lead with Jimmy Walker, who had yet to start his round, with former US PGA champion Martin Kaymer and Ryder Cup partners Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed just a shot behind.

Reed, who had been four over par after just six holes of his opening round before rallying to card a 70, had carded five birdies in his first 11 holes before a bogey on the third.

And two-time major winner Spieth, who also shot an opening 70 thanks to birdies on the 16th and 18th, had matched Reed’s back nine of 32 thanks to five birdies and a solitary bogey.

Darren Clarke has just teed-off from 4-over, which is the same score that Rory McIlroy will resume from later this evening.

Padraig Harrington is the leading Irish player at the moment – he’s waiting to tee-off from 1-over par.

But it’s been a tough afternoon for both Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell, who were among the early starters today.

Lowry carded a 3-over 73, which leaves him on 5-over while McDowell has dropped five shots so-far today to 9-over par. Both players are set to miss the cut.

More than an inch of rain fell on Baltusrol overnight and further downpours on Friday morning forced play to be suspended at 8:15am, with the players remaining on the course while the excess water was cleared.