Major hopes from surprise leader Micheel

Shaun Micheel came to his own rescue on Friday, birdying the last two holes to grab a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the U.S. PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

A relatively anonymous figure on the PGA Tour still searching for his first win, Micheel received an award for bravery after saving two people from drowning in a sinking car during a golf tournament in North Carolina in 1994.

Micheel, 34, honed his skills in South Africa and Asia while making repeated visits to qualifying school to retain his PGA Tour card.

But after all the missed cuts, the travelling and more than 170 tournaments in the U.S., he feels maybe his time has finally arrived.

"Sure, why not?", Micheel told reporters when asked if he thought he could win here. "Someone is going to have to win.

"I've played in enough golf tournaments now as a professional I feel like maybe I'm ready to do something.

"I've played in maybe 175 tournaments on the PGA Tour without a win, so maybe it's about time I do something."

A big finish to his second-round 68, which included birdies on four of his last five holes, put the American on 137, three under par and two shots ahead of U.S. Masters champion Mike Weir of Canada and Billy Andrade.

Only once before has Micheel held the lead in a PGA Tour event, and that experience did not end well.

"Obviously I've never (led) in a major," smiled Micheel. "This is only my third major championship.

"Players rate their career on how many majors they've won. Heck, I've only been in three.

"The last time I led a tour event was the BC Open. I think I had a three-shot lead going into the last day and I didn't close that one out very well.

"Hopefully the second time will be a little better."

With Micheel's wife expecting their first child, he knows exactly how he would spend most of the winner's $1 million purse.

"My number one goal now, besides winning golf tournaments and support my little baby that's on the way, is to get an airplane and try to make my life a little bit easier," said Micheel, who has a pilot's licence.

"I haven't seen my wife in three and a half weeks and I think having an airplane would allow me to be able to get back and see her a little bit more."

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