LAST UPDATE | 14 Jun
RORY MCILROY STUMBLED from a share of the lead with a two-over-par 72 in the second round of the US Open at Pinehurst, but he remains just two shots back from overnight leader Ludwig Aberg.
McIlroy had fired a bogey-free opening five-under-par 65 on Thursday to share top spot with ninth-ranked Patrick Cantlay, but chasing his first major win in 10 years, he finished his second round with a bogey to stand on three-under par through 36 holes.
McIlroy, a back-nine starter, struggled early with bogeys at 11 and the par-3 15th but a birdie at the third put him on 4-under, one off the pace.
The Northern Irishman rolled in a clutch par putt from just inside 40 feet at the par-3 17th, then sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the third to reach 4-under.
A bogey at the last, however, left a sour taste which will have sweetened as the evening progressed.
“Had to have your wits about you,” McIlroy said. “I wish I had converted a couple more of the chances. Still overall in a great position going into the weekend.”
Sweden’s Ludwig Aberg grinded his way to a one-stroke lead while top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and other favorites struggled at punishing Pinehurst.
Sixth-ranked Aberg, a runner-up at April’s Masters in his major debut, fired a one-under par 69 to finish 36 holes on five-under 135.
Aberg had been sharing the lead with France’s Matthieu Pavon, but the back-nine starter closed his round with bogeys at eight and the par-3 ninth to shoot 70 and share fifth.
One adrift in second — and one clear of McIlroy — were 2020 US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, fellow American Patrick Cantlay and Belgium’s Thomas Detry.
Shane Lowry, meanwhile, found form with his putter and made the cut after adding a one-over-par 71 on Friday to his costly opening-round 74. Lowry sits on five over par alongside McIlroy’s fellow Holywood man, Tom McKibbin, who also shot a 71 to make it to the weekend.
Scottie Scheffler, playing alongside McIlroy and PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele (69, four off the lead) will also continue his tournament on Saturday.
Scheffler’s second-round 74 was the first birdie-less major round of his career, the two-time Masters champion undone by bogeys at the par-3 15th and 17th as well as a double on the par-5 fifth.
Séamus Power is heading home, however, his six-over-par 76 on Friday ending his tournament as he finished seven over through 36 holes, two shots above the cut mark.
Tiger Woods also missed the cut on 147 after a 73 on Friday.
“Probably the highest score I could have shot today,” Woods said. “Frustrating I’m not here for the weekend.”
Others missing the cut included fifth-ranked Viktor Hovland and 10th-ranked Max Homa.
You can view the full leaderboard here.
