Rory McIlroy makes cut on the number at 2025 PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy made the halfway cut at the 2025 PGA Championship by the skin of his teeth. 

McIlroy, 36, began the day at 3-over par and faced an uphill battle to make the weekend at the second men's major of the year.

The Northern Irishman got off to the perfect start and made the turn in 3-under par courtesy of birdies at the second, seventh and eighth holes at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina. 

McIlroy put another circle on his scorecard at the 10th to reach 1-under for the championship but back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th made the newly-crowned Masters champion sweat.

He responded with two birdies at the short par-4 14th and 15th but only made the cut on the number after finishing his round with two bogeys. 

McIlroy missed a three-foot putt for par at the par-3 17th and hooked his tee shot left at the treacherously difficult closing hole. 

His TP5 hit the hospitality tent down the left and he was fortunate his golf ball did not end up in the stream. 

Despite having a horrendous stance and lie, McIlroy muscled his ball short right of the green. He failed to get up-and-down for par but managed to book his spot for the weekend. 

At the halfway stage, McIlroy trails 36-hole leader Jhonattan Vegas (70) by nine strokes. 

PGA Tour veteran Vegas was the surprise leader after 18 holes. 

Had it not been for a closing double bogey at the last his advantage would have been greater.

Former U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick shone on day two, carding a 3-under 68 to share second place with Matthieu Pavon (65) and Si Woo Kim (64). 

Kim's round included an ace at the 252-yard par-3 sixth hole.

Max Homa, Garrick Higgo, Robert MacIntyre, JT Poston, Alex Smalley and Ryan Fox are also inside the top-10. 

As is World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who battled his way to a 3-under 68. 

Defending champion Xander Schauffele is some way off his best but a level par 71 also ensured a weekend tee time for the American. 

Meanwhile, LIV Golf recruits Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are also in contention. 

DeChambeau and nine other golfers are on 3-under. 

Rahm and Hatton are a further stroke behind. 

Which players missed the cut?

Shane Lowry was on the receiving end of a brutal break and missed the 36-hole cut by one stroke. 

Hideki Matsuyama, Ludvig Aberg, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Will Zalatoris, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka were among the notables to miss the cut.

More follows.