Admittedly, we like to see the best players in the world fight and fight against the course. Courses where a par saved has almost the same flavor as a birdie entered. So yes, from time to time, the layouts drop a little ballast and give winners at -16, like Koepka in 2016 at the Congressional, or at -13 like Woodland at Pebble Beach in 2019. But this year, the Country Club of Brookline offers players a daunting challenge.
After two rounds, only 23 are under par.
In the lead after the first 36 holes, we find Collin Morikawa. The double Major winner offered himself the best card of the day this Friday. However, all has not been perfect for the American who has not excelled since the start. With only 7 out of 14 fairways hit on Friday, Morikawa made up for it in other areas of the game to score five birdies for a bogey on his card.
With a day in 66 (-4) and a total score of -5, Morikawa is in the lead with Joël Dahmen, who had not made the cut at the US Open in his two previous appearances.
A five-star top 10
Only a length from Morikawa, beautiful people are in ambush. Reinvigorated by his victory last week at the Canada Open, Rory McIlroy is surfing on a newfound confidence. After a first card of 69 (-1), the Northern Irishman knew everything this Friday: a double, two bogeys for five birdies.
The former world number one, who has not been successful in a Major since the USPGA 2014, is 3rd at -4 with Jon Rahm, Hayden Buckley, Aaron Wise and Beau Hossler.
« I knew that if I was already playing in par, it would be a good day. I fought well like on the 3 where I save a double bogey by returning a nice putt of ten meters. All in all, it was a typical day at the US Open with ups and downs. I’m in a good position for the weekend. It’s good. »
Behind, they are currently 5 in 8th place, at -3. A troop led by world number one Scottie Scheffler, author this Friday of a turn in 67 (-3).
No cut for Perez
Like Phil Mickelson, 137th (+11), Victor Perez will not be on the course at the Brookline Country Club this weekend. After a first day in 73 (+3), the only French present this week in Boston failed to rectify the situation. After completing his first leg with 4 bogeys on his card, Perez recorded on his last nine holes another bogey for only a birdie. With a second card of 74 (+4) and a total of +7, the double winner on the DP World Tour misses the cut, for the 6th time in a row in a Major.
A cut which also condemned Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Branden Grace, Kevin Na, Billy Horschel, Jim Furyk or even Sergio Garcia.
