The 124th U.S. Open continues Friday with Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy sharing the lead at Pinehurst No. 2.
Solely 15 gamers shot under-par rounds Thursday, highlighting the issue of the course.
Ludvig Åberg, Matthieu Pavon and 2020 U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau maintain the remaining top-five spots on the leaderboard underneath Cantlay and McIlroy.
Listed below are the highlights from the second spherical of the 2024 event in North Carolina.
Large birdie for Tiger
There is a huge step in the best path for Tiger on the par-4 fourth gap, which had been the second-most troublesome on the course within the second spherical. After hitting his tee shot 294 yards down the best aspect of the green, Woods was left with 230 yards to the opening. He ripped his ball to the center of the inexperienced, then sank a 16½-footer for birdie to maneuver to 1 underneath after 4 holes. He is 3 over within the event, proper on the projected lower line. — Mark Schlabach
ROARS ON 4! 🐅@TigerWoods along with his first birdie of the afternoon. pic.twitter.com/uTsh8039iv
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
Chaos in retailer?
Bryson DeChambeau stated he deliberate to return to his rental home and watch “havoc” within the afternoon, as Pinehurst No. 2 browns out and corporations up. He will not be the one golfer hoping for prime scores. World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler (5 over), Tommy Fleetwood (5 over), Shane Lowry (5 over), Cameron Younger (5 over), Keegan Bradley (4 over) and defending U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark (4 over) want some assist to make the lower. The highest 60 scores and ties will play the ultimate 36 holes. It is at the moment projected to be 3 over, nevertheless it’s anticipated that it’ll transfer to at the very least 4 over. — Schlabach
Bryson’s prepared for the weekend
Bryson DeChambeau observed one thing early in his second spherical Friday morning — the greens at Pinehurst No. 2 have been already firmer and sooner. He survived to put up a 1-under 69, giving him a 36-hole complete of 4 underneath. He was tied for third. As for the weekend: carry it on.
“It truly began to get fairly agency already, which is an indication that they need this golf course rolling by tomorrow and Sunday,” DeChambeau stated. “I am excited for the check and problem, and I believe it will proceed to evolve, particularly with the circumstances being as scorching as they’re, and if the wind picks up, it will be diabolical.” — Schlabach
“I really feel fairly assured and able to get after it this weekend.”@b_dechambeau reacts after two rounds @PinehurstResort 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/qE1p7uQJ3E
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
Tiger saves one
That was a giant par save for Tiger on the par-4 second gap. After making par on the primary, he almost made a large number of the 503-yard second, which has been the second-toughest gap at Pinehurst No. 2 this week. Tiger pushed his tee shot into the native space on the best, and his ball settled subsequent to wire grass. He punched out to 52 yards, chipped to about 13 ft, then sank the putt to avoid wasting par. He is at 4 over. — Mark Schlabach
Early-round par saves will be your greatest good friend within the U.S. Open. pic.twitter.com/rswuCLq9T6
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
Tiger’s up
Three-time U.S. Open winner Tiger Woods is about to tee off within the second spherical on No. 1. After struggling via a 4-over 74 on Thursday, Woods must clear issues up if he desires to stay round for the weekend. The U.S. Open lower is the highest 60 scores and ties. There are at the moment 73 gamers at 3 over or higher, though circumstances are anticipated to get firmer and sooner this afternoon, so at the very least 4 over is perhaps a extra doubtless lower. Tiger struggled along with his iron play and placing at occasions within the first spherical. He is attempting to keep away from lacking the lower in a second straight main. — Schlabach
Detry stays scorching
Thomas Detry continues to scorch his means up the leaderboard. After making three birdies in his first 9 holes, Detry hit it to three ft on No. 1 (he began on the again 9) and made a straightforward birdie earlier than draining a 22-foot putt on the third gap. He is tied with Patrick Cantlay at 5 underneath after beginning the day at 1 underneath. — Paolo Uggetti
Take me to your (co) chief!@tomdetry 🇧🇪 is scorching at Pinehurst. pic.twitter.com/WwSaELmzh7
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
Bairstow turns it round
Speak about a turnaround. England’s Sam Bairstow posted a 14-over 84 Thursday in his first spherical in a U.S. Open. A day later, he carded a 3-under 67, a 17-shot enchancment and the most effective spherical within the clubhouse thus far. On Thursday, Bairstow had seven bogeys, one double bogey and a triple bogey. On Friday, he had 5 birdies and two bogeys. The perfect enchancment from Spherical 1 to Spherical 2 within the U.S. Open is nineteen pictures, achieved by 4 gamers, most not too long ago Earl Puckett in 1965 (93-74). — Schlabach
Hassle for the world No. 1
If Scottie Scheffler would not flip issues round and make the lower within the last three holes of the second spherical, he would be a part of Greg Norman (1997, Congressional), Tiger Woods (2006, Winged Foot), Luke Donald (2012, Olympic Membership) and Dustin Johnson (2017, Erin Hills) as the one No. 1-ranked gamers on this planet to overlook the lower on the U.S. Open, in line with Elias Sports activities Bureau. Stats guru Justin Ray of Twenty First Group famous on X that Scheffler has by no means had a birdie-free spherical in a serious as a professional. — Schlabach
Chaos on No. 5
When three of the most effective gamers on this planet play a par-5, you normally anticipate a birdie or two, perhaps an eagle. At worst, you’d anticipate par. Not at Pinehurst No. 2, and positively not on the par-5 fifth gap, with as we speak’s pin location all the way in which on the left. All three of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele determined to assault stated pin with their strategy pictures.
None of them held the inexperienced, and all watched in horror as their balls trickled off the steep left slope and into the native, sandy space under. It is {one of the} worst locations to be on that golf course, and it confirmed. Scheffler’s and Schauffele’s chips got here again to their ft, and McIlroy discovered from their errors and despatched it lengthy of the pin and off the inexperienced on the best aspect. McIlroy was in a position to rise up and down for par, which is perhaps his greatest par of the day, however Schauffele and Scheffler suffered a far worse destiny and walked off with double bogey. Be aware to self — and to everybody within the subject — do not go left on No. 5. — Uggetti
The Scottie-Xander-Rory group is having a tough go from the native space on 5. 😵💫 pic.twitter.com/eU7WUEUpkW
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
A rally from Hovland
Give reigning FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland credit score for not mailing it in. After posting an 8-over 78 within the first spherical, Hovland opened the second with a birdie on No. 1. Then a double bogey on the par-4 eighth dropped him to 9 over. Hovland is lastly placing issues along with 4 birdies in a five-hole stretch to get to five over, giving himself an opportunity to make the lower. He made putts of 16 ft and eight ft on Nos. 9 and 10, respectively, then hit his strategy pictures to 4 ft on 12 and 2½ ft on 13. — Schlabach
Grinding to make the lower.
Hovland 🇳🇴 has birdied 4 of his final 5 holes to offer himself an opportunity. pic.twitter.com/VOkb2XeRk9
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
Xand3r Schauff3l3
Speak about throwing up 3s. PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, after making a pair of bogeys on his first two holes on the again 9, carded seven 3s within the first 13 holes of the second spherical. In accordance with Elias Sports activities Bureau, Hunter Mahan recorded essentially the most 3s in a single spherical in a U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 with 9 in 2014. Mahan’s spherical included 5 bogeys and a double-bogey, which triggered him to overlook the lower. Schauffele is not in peril of doing that — he is 3 underneath with 5 holes to play. Schauffele has hit 9 of 13 fairways thus far and leads the sphere in strokes gained: strategy (3.08) within the spherical. — Schlabach
Right here comes Xander! 👀
5 birdies on the day, with 3 within the final 4 holes. pic.twitter.com/ddh44HqzNn
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
Straka catches a break
Pinehurst No. 2 has taken loads of pictures from the world’s greatest golfers within the second spherical of the U.S. Open. It lastly gave a pair again to Sepp Straka. The College of Georgia alum acquired a horrible break when his strategy shot on the par-4 third gap bounced off the pin and bounded right into a bunker. He ended up making a triple-bogey 7.
Now THAT is a tricky break 😔 pic.twitter.com/qQAFchfHeo
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
On the par-3 ninth, Straka took two of these strokes again when he made an ace from 194 yards. It was the primary hole-in-one of the event. He’s 2 over on the flip. — Schlabach
Ace alert! 🙌
No difficulty with the flagstick this time for @seppstraka. 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/8pySzBFpha
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
Xander makes a run
Right here comes Xander Schauffele. After beginning off his spherical with back-to-back bogeys, taking him to 2 over for the event, the 2024 PGA Championship winner buckled down and made three birdies in six holes, together with a dart that stopped 2 ft from the 18th gap. Schauffele hasn’t had his greatest stuff thus far, however he is been grinding on a tricky golf course. He heads to his second 9 of the day in nice place. — Uggetti
“Completely the best quantity.”
Sure, sure it was.
One other kick-in birdie for Schauffele to get to crimson figures. pic.twitter.com/FoVQ7lyZfR
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
Powerful day for Scottie
It has been one other irritating day for world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler. He began on the again and carded bogeys on each par-3 holes. On the fifteenth, he missed the inexperienced and could not make a 17½-footer for par. On the seventeenth, he hit his tee shot right into a left greenside bunker and missed a 9-footer. He was 2 over within the spherical on the flip and three over within the event. Scheffler’s frustration is starting to indicate. After narrowly lacking a birdie putt on No. 16, he tossed his putter into the air. When his tee shot on No. 18 went means left, he slammed his driver into the bottom and threw his tee. — Schlabach
A shock at second
Right here comes Belgium’s Thomas Detry. The previous College of Illinois star has moved right into a tie for second place at 4 underneath after making three straight birdies on Nos. 11-13. After beginning on the again 9 and making par on No. 10, Detry drained a 17½-footer on 11, a 13-footer on 12 and a 16½-footer on 13. Detry was probably the greatest newbie gamers on this planet however continues to be searching for his first skilled win on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour. His greatest end within the U.S. Open was a tie for forty ninth at Winged Foot in 2020. — Schlabach
Turning again the clock
Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who ran away with an 8-stroke victory within the final U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014, is true again within the combine a decade later. Kaymer acquired to 2 underneath with an 11½-foot birdie putt on the par-4 thirteenth, then gave it proper again with a bogey on the 14th. He is at 1 underneath par. If Kaymer, an LIV Golf League captain, may one way or the other win once more this week, it could be the third-longest stretch between U.S. Open victories. Julius Boros (1952-1963) and Hale Irwin (1979-90) waited 11 years in between their wins. — Schlabach
McIlroy saves par
For the second day in a row, McIlroy gave the Pinehurst crowd one thing to cheer about with one other chip-in from off the inexperienced. After McIlroy hit his strategy shot on the par-3 17 well past the pin, his putt ran previous the opening and off the inexperienced to the brief grass. A pissed off McIlroy requested for it to cease — to no avail — then proceeded to avoid wasting par along with his wedge. No putter obligatory. McIlroy, who began on the tenth gap Friday, is 2 over for the day and three underneath for the event. — Uggetti
Basic one-putt by Rory. 😂 pic.twitter.com/QszrIci7De
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
Rory struggles early
They’re off and working within the second spherical of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. McIlroy, who began Friday because the co-leader with Patrick Cantlay, did not card a 5 within the first spherical whereas posting a bogey-free 5-under 65. Beginning on the again 9 Friday, McIlroy has already posted two. He missed a 12-foot birdie attempt to settled for par on the par-5 tenth. On the par-4 eleventh, his strategy shot rolled off the inexperienced. He chipped about 5½ ft previous the opening and missed the par putt coming again. He is 4 underneath, 1 stroke behind Cantlay. — Schlabach