The winds were up on Kiawah Island on Friday, and one man took advantage of a morning tee time to work his way up the leaderboard and assume the top spot at the halfway point. The youth movement that surged on Thursday, stepped aside on Friday as the wily veterans took over the room.

The cut fell at 5 over, and an astonishing 81 players survived. Every golfer remaining is within 11 shots of the lead. Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course is not one that allows for big comebacks, but don’t count Harold Varner, Patrick Reed, and Jason Day out of the running. Stranger things happen.

Five things that we know we learned, that happened on Friday are laid out for you here.

1. Young Lefty

Phil Mickelson, who recently looked like a prime candidate for a leap to the Champion’s Tour, is tied at the top with Louis Oosthuizen. Phil began his day on the inward half, the side that has frayed the nerves through two days. He came home in 2 over, returning to even on the week through 27 holes. On the outward half, the California native coaxed five birdie putts into the hole for 31, the low nine of the first two days. Mickelson nearly doubled his driving accuracy from day one, and the results were apparent. The 2005 PGA Championship winner leads the strokes gained: overall category and is putting as if he were on his dining room carpet. It’s a killer combination, and he just might have a shot to stay near the lead on Saturday.

.@PhilMickelson has been working his magic at @KiawahResort. And there are still 36 holes to go! #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/kzwZtCy4Ev

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 22, 2021

2. King Louis

South Africa’s British Open champion in 2010 still swings the club as he did during that magical week in St. Andrews. What was considered a coming-out party for a young champion turned into his sole major victory after his 2012 Masters playoff loss. Like Mickelson, Oousthuizen is far from a sure bet, but he’s a safe play for the oddsmakers. Guys like him win PGA Championships (think Jeff Sluman, Larry Nelson, Shawn Micheel), and his complete game has him on page one. No matter where he drives the ball, Louis gets it on the green in regulation. His putting and chipping have been exquisite, and he’s tied with Mickelson at 5 under, one shot clear of Brooks Koepka.

Have a day, @Louis57TM!#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/rBVE8fGxsD

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 21, 2021

3. BK Broiler

Brooks is an enigma. He seems injured, but he played the Masters and is challenging at the PGA. He has won this august event two times and fears no golfer ahead nor behind. Brooks is grinding an ax, thanks to the November Masters win by Dustin Johnson. Something about DJ gets Brooke going like no other competitor. Former training partners and bros, Koepka wants no part of Lanky catching up in the majors department. Koepka had eagles Vegas-style, at the 7th and 11th holes. Both par 5’s that exceed 570 yards, he was on in two on both greens, and maneuvered longish putts into the hole for three. If he keeps doing things like that all weekend, he’ll have more margin for error than the rest of the chasers.

? ANOTHER ONE!

Brooks Koepka sinks his second eagle of the day, bringing him one back of the lead.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/oc7ZTwictc

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 21, 2021

4. Grand Slam talk?

Hideki Matsuyama was minus-five on the day, before the requisite five at the last (seriously, how is it listed as a par 4?) dropped him to 3 under on the week, tied for fourth position with two members of the South African contingent. Matsuyama has confidence after breaking through the major glass ceiling at Augusta in April. His flatstick continues to save him. Consider how he butchered the 18th before holing a putt of seven feet for bogey. If there is a golfer that Koepka considers a threat, it’s Hideki. Koepka expects to dispatch Mickelson and Oosthuizen by the 10th tee on Saturday. The bearer of the green jacket will be there until the end.

First major start as a major winner. ?

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama will finish ____ this week. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/KaA5KCc5h8

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) May 18, 2021

5. #TeamOf20 update

Is 10 percent always 10 percent? Two of the twenty PGA professionals sit a 5 over or better, assured of weekend rounds at Kiawah. Brad Marek has looked like he belonged all week. Two rounds of 73 have him at 2 over on the week. Marek birdies and eagles like a tour pro, but he makes bogeys like a club pro. Is top 30 possible? Yes. Top 20? That would be massive. Any higher is super unlikely, but he’s putting on a nice show.

Ben Cook does not like the closing stretch. By closing stretch, we mean the final six holes, which we might as well call the closing third. The pro from John’s Island Club in Florida has played that portion in 4 over both days. Saturday and Sunday won’t be any easier, so for him to move up at all, he’ll need to go Full Lefty on the outward half. Can he? Sure. Will he? \_*_/. Thing is, he’s through to the weekend, and that’s worth a lot.

Team of 20 Member Benny Cook came away with a title at the Four Ball Stableford Team Championship earlier this week…

Looks like he's ready to make another run at a @PGAChampionship appearance. #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/5PjMGiGAtV

— PGA of America (@PGA) February 4, 2021