SportGolfMcIlroy’s round of 67 put him right in contention at -8 as Wyndham Clark took the clubhouse lead at -9
(Getty Images)
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Wyndham Clark took advantage of generous fairways and soft course conditions to jump to the top of the leaderboard while Rory McIlroy overcame a sluggish start to card a 67 midway through second-round action at the US Open on Friday.
Clark drilled his fourth birdie of the day on his penultimate hole to take the outright lead at nine-under par, a shot ahead of overnight leaders Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele, who went out in the afternoon wave having shot a record-breaking US Open score of 62 on Thursday.
Meanwhile, McIlroy birdied four of his last five holes including the par-three ninth where he narrowly missed a hole-in-one to move within a shot of the clubhouse lead.
Early on Friday, defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick enjoyed another memorable moment in this tournament as he recorded the third hole-in-one of the week. Fitzpatrick’s tee shot on the 115-yard 15th pitched beyond the flag and span back into the hole, although he could not see where the ball had landed and was walking off the tee before the crowd’s roar sparked wild celebrations.
Follow all the action from the 123rd US Open:
1686966764Another birdie for Rickie, leads by one Fowler -10 (17), Day +8 (17), Rose +4 (17)
This round from Rickie Fowler is truly unlike anything I can remember in recent US Open history. The American has pared just three holes out of the 17th he has played but finds his EIGHTH birdie after chasing up a divine iron into the 16th green. A nerveless putt and he is back in the solo lead.
Justin Rose, meanwhile, looks to be heading for the exit with his second successive bogey. He’s now at four over par with the cut at two under.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:52
1686966511English and Irish trio make the cutHatton +1 (67), Fleetwood +2 (69), Lowry +2 (70)
Some good news for the European fans still following along. Tyrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry all squeak through to make it to the weekend. Hatton, in particular, did so with a three-under-par 67 which looks to be the round of the afternoon so far.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:48
1686966327Raining bogeys for SchauffeleSchauffele -6 (15), Rahm E (15), Hovland -2 (15)
This 15th has gone from one of the easiest holes to a really tricky customer in the space of a few hours with the added wind and sun firming up the course.
Schauffele and Rahm find themselves beyond the mound in the middle of the green and with two awfully tricky puts. Rahm sends his left of the mound and makes par but Schauffele decides to go partially over the mound to the right, but it doesn’t catch the slope.
He has a tickler down the hill…but it doesn’t drop. A third bogey in a row for Xander and he’s now back at six under par.
Hovland was in close with his approach but he can’t make his birdie putt. remaining at two under.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:45
1686966104Double bogey for HomaScheffler -4 (16*), Homa +5 (15*), Morikawa +1 (16*)
And that could be that for Max. He goes long over the back of the long par-three seventh and follows that with a poor chip back onto the green. From on the green, it’s a costly three-putt and a double-bogey five for the American. Gutting for the local lad.
He now sits at five over par and will need an eagle-birdie finish to make the cut.
Morikawa, meanwhile, hits a beauty to just outside five feet. The two-time major champion makes the putt to move to one over par and a step closer to making the cut.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:41
1686965543Fowler drops back againFowler -9 (16), Day +8 (16), Rose +3 (16)
It’s a real struggle keeping up with Ricky Fowler at the minute, who is switching between birdie and bogey at will out here on the back nine. He goes way left with his drive and can’t recover as he makes a bogey five.
Justin Rose was briefly inside the cut line but he now will need a birdie in the final two holes after a bogey on 16. The Englishman finds the bunker off the tee and can’t get up and down from the fairway to save his par.
Day makes a bogey too but unfortunately for the Aussie, his tournament has long-since been over.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:32
1686965341Back-to-back bogeys for Schauffele Schauffele -7 (14), Rahm E (14), Hovland -2 (14)
A right mess of a hole from Schauffele as he is out of position off the tee before flying it long from the middle of the fairway. He can’t get up and down from there and it’s a bogey six on the par five. He is now back to seven under par.
Viktor gets caught up in the rough as well and he cards a bogey six as well. Rahm makes par to stay at even par.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:29
1686964733Plenty of birdies at sixScheffler -4 (15*), Homa +3 (15*), Morikawa +2 (15*)
The sixth was always going to be a must-birdie hole for Homa and Morikawa if they are to make the cut. And, they both do after some great wedges into the short par-four. Scheffler also makes his birdie to move to four under par.
That trio have the par-five eighth coming up which they will all be eyeing up for another birdie.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:18
1686964467Fowler into the leadFowler -10 (15), Day +7 (15), Rose +2 (15)
Man, you really can’t keep Fowler down. He’s not making many pars but he is making a hell of a lot of birdies and the American finds another one at the par-three 15th. He uses the backstop well and drains the eight-foot putt to move up to ten under par.
Rose has a good look at birdie as well but his slides by, while Day ends up in a similar spot to where Scheffler was earlier and can’t two-putt from round the mound.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:14
1686964175Bogey for SchauffeleSchauffele -8 (13), Rahm E (13), Hovland -3 (13)
It’s a difficult pitch for the American, who leaves himself 9 feet for his par….missed. He drops out of the lead and back to even par for his round.
Rahm and Hovland make par to stay as they were.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:09
1686964041Bogeys for Homa and MorikawaScheffler -3 (14*), Homa +4 (14*), Morikawa +3 (14*)
The last thing that Morikawa and Homa would have wanted. Bogeys for the pair of them. Max airmails the green and can’t get up and down from the thick bermuda rough. Morikawa, meanwhile, has to hack out of the rough after his drive and can’t get up and down from the fairway.
Scheffler has a good look at birdie but another opportunity slides by for the world number one – he remains at three under par.
Ben Fleming17 June 2023 02:07
