After the uncharacteristic rewards of Thursday, the US Open returned to form with the wind as an ally for a feisty second-round battle. Bryson DeChambeau took a winding path to post two-under 68, moving to second at the Winged Foot Golf Club. Overnight leader Justin Thomas met with a reality check as he was reeled in by the West Course. Bubba Watson and Hideki Matsuyama were the only other golfer who managed to break par in making a crafty 69. At 3-under through 36 holes, DeChambeau enjoyed the clubhouse lead. But Patrick Reed made a perfect bunker shot on the par-5 ninth to secure a last gasp birdie and snatch a one-stroke lead over DeChambeau. Matsuyama is even par at the halfway stage.
Tiger Woods made an early exit after a painful second round. Starting on the 10th, his round unravelled as doubles at the 16th and 18th put a 40 on his card as he made the turn. He made four more bogeys between the 2nd and 6th holes to see his hopes of another good major evaporate in the misty air of New York. Rory McIlroy dropped outside the top twenty with a disappointing 76 on Friday.
Reed shot an even 70 with five birdies, to put himself at the top of the leaderboard through 36 holes. Playing a ferocious brand of golf, DeChambeau was mending his card all day. Each time he conceded a bogey as he started with one on the 10th, he posted a birdie immediately to prevent his card from being charred. In the end Bryson put himself in a great place with a thrilling eagle at the 557 yard, par-5 ninth hole to end the day in second behind Reed.
Rafa Cabrera Bello and Harris English earned matching 70s to plant themselves right behind Reed and DeChambeau.
Justin Thomas courted trouble very early in his round. He conceded four bogeys in five holes from the 13th hole, watching his perch at the top of the leaderboard crumble in the wind. But after making a double bogey six on the first hole, Thomas played with sheer determination to produce birdies at the par-3 3rd and 7th holes. That was enough to serve up a 73 and reach the weekend at 2-under 138.
PGA Champion Collin Morikawa left himself an inch short on the ninth, finishing at 7-over with a 71 in the second round. It may just leave him on the wrong edge of the knife. Tiger Woods though faced no such dilemma. Even though he found some good golf towards the end of the day, making birdies at 7 & 9, it was too little too late. With scores of 73 and 77, Woods missed the cut with a 36-hole total of 10-over 150.
Watson looked in command for most of the day, before a double-bogey at the last hole forced the American to settle for a 69, making 14 greens in regulation. He made 15 greens during the first round 72.
“I was just getting the ball in play. I made a few putts. Just kept trying to hit the greens,” said Watson. “To hit that many greens in a U.S. Open, I think you’re pretty happy. I just didn’t make any putts. Even today I missed some putts that could have went in. It’s not that I’m hitting bad putts, it’s just they’re not going in.
“Even though I made a double bogey on the last hole, I still played good golf at a U.S. Open.”
The nightmare continued for three time major winner Jordan Spieth. He crumbled to an 81 on Friday, following through from a 73 in the opening round. At 14-over 154, he missed the weekend by eight strokes. After two rounds, the top 60 players, including ties, will advance to the final two rounds of the championship.
