Jonattan Vegas Leads PGA Championship

Charlotte, North Carolina – Jonattan Vegas finds himself navigating unfamiliar territory: he’s in the running to win a major championship.

This week at Quazlo Hollow for the PGA Championship, Vegas has participated in 16 major tournaments, missing 10 cuts and not finishing in the top 20 even once.

However, after two rounds, he’s currently leading the tournament at 8-under par, having recorded a 1-under par 70 on Friday.

That gives him a two-shot advantage over French golfer Mathieu Pabon, who sits at 6-under par, at the completion of Vegas’s round.

The 40-year-old, who has claimed four titles on the PGA Tour, became the first Venezuelan to lead a major championship after the first round.

“It means a lot,” he said about being at the forefront of a major event. “You invest so much time, putting yourself in a position like this. Sadly, I haven’t always succeeded in my career, but you never know.”

“You just need to keep pushing forward and working hard. You really can’t predict when your path will change. I understand there are moments in these big events where you really compete well.”

As he approached the 18th hole, Vegas held a four-shot lead. Even after landing a decent tee shot, he made a troublesome double bogey, which marred an otherwise impressive performance.

“It was a great day,” Vegas reflected. “I managed my game well, especially on a challenging day. Leading in majors is tough, so I’m proud of how I played.”

“I need to focus on everything positive and replicate that over the next couple of days,” he added. “It’s a cliché, but we practice a lot on taking one shot at a time for circumstances like this. I hope I can keep that in mind.”

Interestingly, this is the first time Vegas has held a lead after 36 holes since the 2019 John Deere Classic.

Yet, he mentioned, “It’s easy to feel pressure heading into the final holes. But I have to stay focused on the positives. Even though it’s hard to maintain that lead, there’s plenty of golf left.”

Notably, Vegas received a lucky break on the 17th hole, a lengthy par 3, where he managed to escape with a par after a fortunate sequence.

“It was definitely surprising,” he said, assessing his luck. “I wasn’t completely sure how it would play out. I knew it was on a rolling green, but I thought it might run into trouble.”

“This is just part of the sport—you might encounter a sprinkler head or a cart path that alters your shot. Sometimes, you get a break that goes your way. You just have to embrace those moments.”

Vegas has faced numerous health challenges, including shoulder surgery, which has sidelined him from several majors. “It’s really frustrating, particularly when I feel poised to compete in significant events.”

“I think my game is quite solid, but translating that in majors has been a struggle for me. I’ve played well in various tournaments but haven’t managed to replicate that at the majors,” he admitted.

“It’s definitely a learning curve, figuring out what it takes to excel alongside the best. Unfortunately, it’s taken longer than I would’ve liked, but I’m thrilled to be in this position right now.”