Rickie Fowler – once cited as the best player not to win a major – is one stroke ahead at the halfway point of the US Open, but he has a group of players right behind him who are hoping it stays that way come Sunday night.
Eight birdies and six bogeys saw Fowler add a two-under-par 68 to the previous day’s 62 and move him to 10-under – a joint US Open record for 36 holes. The Californian holds the lead by one shot over fellow American Wyndham Clark, while Rory McIlroy is in third alongside Xander Schauffele.
“I’m in the lead, but we’re only halfway there,” said Fowler, 34, whose last win came at the Phoenix Open in 2019 and whose world ranking dropped to 167 as recently as 11 months ago. “Being on top is nice, but it doesn’t mean anything at the moment. I’m looking forward to continuing to challenge myself and go out there and try to do the best I can do.”
Many expected USA to stress Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course after a record-breaking day on Thursday, but there was still plenty of birdie on Friday and a great third hole in the tournament. This was achieved in the 15th minute by defending champions Matt Fitzpatrick during a second round 71 which leaves the Yorkshireman with a lot of work to do if they are to retain their title.
Schauffele, who matched Fowler’s 62 on Thursday, didn’t bring the same magic on Friday, but after three straight bogeys he finished with two birdies to sign at the par-70 to join McIlroy at eight-under. Scotty Scheffler isn’t too far behind in the Five Under 68s, with Cameron Smith rounding out the top ten on the Four Under 67s.
On the 10th, things didn’t go McIlroy’s way over his first nine holes and he was in danger of slipping out of contention with three bogeys and a lone birdie, but the response was emphatic. A six birdie followed, four in the last five holes, including coming within inches of a hole-in-one in the ninth, in contrast to a bogey finish in the first round.
With the cut down at +2, a bunch of the big names won’t be around for the weekend, including Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson, Max Homma, Justin Rose and Jason Day. Thomas fared the worst, finishing the season in 14th place after a nightmare second round 81 that included three double bogeys. Dustin Johnson was also riding the bogey train, but most of his putts came on one hole when he putt a four-putt on the four-second hole but still managed to finish the day with a par-70 to only sit four pars. Fore at six under.
Masters champion John Rahm made the cut without a margin to spare for a second-round 73 that left the Spaniard furious after a miss-filled day that included six bogeys and left him off pace in his quest for a second US Open. Title.
For all scores from the 123 US Open Championships, click here here.