Not even a last hole bogey could darken Scheffler's mood after the World No.2 moved to five-under-par with a patient round of 68 on another gruelling day at golf's second men’s major of the year.

"I did a good job of grinding today. I had some nice up-and-downs and kept the course in front of me for the most part," the American said.

"Didn't hit as many fairways as I would hope to. Still, to shoot two-under, especially on a day where the rough got really wet and it was really tough to play out of, to post a number today was good, solid golf."

Scheffler, Canadian Conners (68) and Norway's Hovland (67) enjoy a two-shot buffer over Americans Justin Suh (68) and first round leader Bryson DeChambeau (71).

“Obviously these tournaments are what you dream about winning and you practice so hard to play in,” Hovland said. “It's nice to be back to have a chance, but at the same time, we've got a lot of golf left. We're only halfway, and a lot of things can happen.”

Chasing a first major title, Hovland is not getting ahead of himself at the halfway mark. PHOTO: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

The Norwegian’s thoughts echoed by Conners, who is becoming a regular on major championship leaderboards.

“I think just getting experience in the situation is helpful,” he said. “I think winning in Texas a little over a month ago, take a lot from that. Yeah, lots of confidence in my game, feel good, and having fun out there.”

Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka's 66, with the low second round is equal sixth alongside England's Callum Tarren (67) at two-under, as rain and at times bitterly cold conditions made for tough going at the already notoriously difficult Oak Hill Country Club.

"It's very challenging, but I feel like on a golf course like this, I'm one swing away from getting everything back together," Scheffler said.

"So when you can kind of hang around the lead and stay in position and hopefully wait to get hot, it's a good position to be in."

World No.3 Rory McIlroy (69) is even par in pursuit of a third PGA Championship title, five shots off the pace alongside leading Australian Min Woo Lee (67).

World No.1 Jon Rahm is nine shots back after following his 76 with a 68 on Friday.

RIGHT: One of the game's top ball strikers, Conners is becoming accustomed to major leaderboards. PHOTO: Darren Carroll/PGA of America via Getty Images.

Fellow major champions Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are sticking around for the weekend too, but they needed to work to make it happen.

Thomas, the defending PGA champion, sank an eight-foot bogey putt on the 18th to finish on the cut line at five-over.

Spieth, nursing an ailing left wrist, saved par from a greenside bunker on 18 to join Thomas on that number.

Club professional Michael Block insisted he could contend for an extraordinary victory after a second consecutive 70 had him at even par with McIlroy.

Block, who is one of 20 PGA professionals in the field in Rochester and the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in California, made the cut for the first time in seven majors, but is setting his sights considerably higher.

"I am having a great time," Block, 46, said after a round containing four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the 5th, which was the result of a dreaded shank off the tee.

"I have no pressure, I have a job and a pay cheque waiting for me at my club. I don't have to make putts to pay for my mortgage. This is a beautiful thing I have here.

"I feel like I've got the game this week to compete, to tell you the truth. I feel like I could shoot even par out here every day. At the end of the four days that might be a pretty good result.

"As weird as it sounds, I'm going to compete. I promise you that."