WINGED FOOT KICKED back hard on day two of the US Open as Patrick Reed ground out a narrow halfway lead in pursuit of his second major title.
After an opening day in which 21 players broke par, just three defied breezy conditions to do so on Friday as Tiger Woods missed the cut on 10 over par following a 77 and Rory McIlroy slid down the leaderboard with a 76.
Former Masters champion Reed added a 70 to his opening 66 to finish four under par and a shot ahead of fellow American Bryson DeChambeau, whose 68 was the lowest score of the day.
Overnight leader Justin Thomas recovered from five over par after 10 holes to shoot 73 and finish two under alongside Harris English and Rafa Cabrera Bello. Jason Kokrak was the only other player in red figures on one under.
“I feel good,” Reed said after a round containing five birdies and five bogeys. “I feel ready to go out and put myself in position hopefully to have a chance late on Sunday.
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“I feel like the game is where it needs to be. I just need to tighten a few things up here or there, but the short game is sharp, and when I play around a place like this, that’s what you need.”
DeChambeau’s much-hyped physical transformation had earlier paid dividends as a 380-yard drive on the 557-yard par-five ninth – his final hole – was followed by a pitching wedge from 178 yards to set up an eagle from six feet.
McIlroy had been just a shot off the lead after a birdie on the first, but played the next six holes in six over par and eventually finished three over for the championship alongside Lee Westwood, who also returned a 76.
Shane Lowry, meanwhile, birdied two of his last three holes to make the cut with a much improved level-par 70, leaving him at plus-six for the tournament.
Cork amateur James Sugrue has missed the cut, however, shooting a nine-over 79 to leave him at plus-17 for the tournament, as has Graeme McDowell, who shot a 10-over 80 to bow out at plus-16 for the competition.
James Sugrue plays out of a bunker on the fifth hole. John Minchillo
John Minchillo
US Open Selected Scores
1. Patrick Reed (-4)
2. Bryson DeChambeau (-3)
T22. Rory McIlroy (+3)
T.49 Shane Lowry (+6)
CUT Tiger Woods (+10); Phil Mickleson (+13); Graeme McDowell (+17); James Sugrue (+17)
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Reed takes outright lead as McIlroy slips away on tough second round at US Open
LAST UPDATE | 19 Sep 2020
WINGED FOOT KICKED back hard on day two of the US Open as Patrick Reed ground out a narrow halfway lead in pursuit of his second major title.
After an opening day in which 21 players broke par, just three defied breezy conditions to do so on Friday as Tiger Woods missed the cut on 10 over par following a 77 and Rory McIlroy slid down the leaderboard with a 76.
Former Masters champion Reed added a 70 to his opening 66 to finish four under par and a shot ahead of fellow American Bryson DeChambeau, whose 68 was the lowest score of the day.
Overnight leader Justin Thomas recovered from five over par after 10 holes to shoot 73 and finish two under alongside Harris English and Rafa Cabrera Bello. Jason Kokrak was the only other player in red figures on one under.
“I feel good,” Reed said after a round containing five birdies and five bogeys. “I feel ready to go out and put myself in position hopefully to have a chance late on Sunday.
“I feel like the game is where it needs to be. I just need to tighten a few things up here or there, but the short game is sharp, and when I play around a place like this, that’s what you need.”
DeChambeau’s much-hyped physical transformation had earlier paid dividends as a 380-yard drive on the 557-yard par-five ninth – his final hole – was followed by a pitching wedge from 178 yards to set up an eagle from six feet.
McIlroy had been just a shot off the lead after a birdie on the first, but played the next six holes in six over par and eventually finished three over for the championship alongside Lee Westwood, who also returned a 76.
Shane Lowry, meanwhile, birdied two of his last three holes to make the cut with a much improved level-par 70, leaving him at plus-six for the tournament.
Cork amateur James Sugrue has missed the cut, however, shooting a nine-over 79 to leave him at plus-17 for the tournament, as has Graeme McDowell, who shot a 10-over 80 to bow out at plus-16 for the competition.
US Open Selected Scores
1. Patrick Reed (-4)
2. Bryson DeChambeau (-3)
T22. Rory McIlroy (+3)
T.49 Shane Lowry (+6)
CUT Tiger Woods (+10); Phil Mickleson (+13); Graeme McDowell (+17); James Sugrue (+17)
With reporting by Gavin Cooney
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Graeme McDowell james sugrue Rory McIlroy Shane Lowry US Open Winged Foot