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Oak Hill was threatening to become "Soak Hill" as the second round of the 95th US PGA Championship continued amid persistent rain today and Rory McIlroy was among those struggling.
But Masters champion Adam Scott and England's Lee Westwood were coping well with the conditions as they set the pace at the top of the leaderboard.
Scott shared the overnight lead with former US Open champion Jim Furyk and started his round in perfect style, chipping in from just off the 10th green for a birdie.
That took him into the outright lead on six under but he was soon joined by Westwood, still seeking his first major title at the 63rd attempt after letting a two-shot lead slip going into the final round of the Open at Muirfield last month.
Westwood teed off in light drizzle and made regulation pars at the 10th and 11th before the rain became progressively heavier to threaten another stoppage in play after yesterday's 70-minute delay.
That did not stop the former world number one from rolling in a 25ft birdie putt on the 12th however, and although he was unable to birdie the par-five 13th for the second day running - he missed from four feet immediately after the stoppage yesterday - he did pick up a shot on the next.
Scott regained top spot when his birdie putt from 15ft on the 13th just had enough pace to trickle into the hole, and he was soon two clear as Westwood dropped his first shot of the week on the 17th.
Seeking to become the first man since Jack Nicklaus in 1975 to win the Masters and US PGA in the same year, Scott then missed a great chance to move three ahead, his birdie putt from six feet on the 15th catching the edge of the hole and spinning out.
In contrast, defending champion Rory McIlroy was facing a battle to make the cut after getting off to a disappointing start to his round.
McIlroy has been watching videos of his eight-shot triumph at Kiawah Island last year for inspiration and it looked to be paying off as he birdied three of his first four holes yesterday and eventually carded a one-under 69.
But the world number three carded two bogeys and a double bogey in his first eight holes today to drop back to two over, right on the early projected cut line.
The double-bogey came on the 15th where McIlroy threw his ball into the lake afterwards in frustration.
Meanwhile, Jamie Donaldson had earlier withdrawn from the final major of the year before play began, the Welshman citing a back injury after an opening round of 80. He joined American Bo Van Pelt in making an early exit, Van Pelt citing a hip injury after his own round of 80.
As McIlroy was staring a missed cut four birdies coming home have left him seven off the lead and his resurgence has given the former world No 1 fresh hope that he can contend at Oak Hill over the weekend.
"I was letting the round get away from me somewhat, but making four birdies on the last eight holes was nice to sort of redeem the round a little bit and keep myself in the tournament," he said.
"Walking up the second hole, which was my 11th hole today, all I wanted to do is be here for the weekend. All of sudden, I'm somewhat back in the tournament. I get off to a fast start tomorrow and I'm right there.
"It makes me feel good because maybe in the middle of the season or a couple of months ago I wouldn't have been standing up here. I would have been going home.
"It's good to be able to do that and fight back and makes you feel good about yourself going into the weekend."
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