After Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele both shot 62 on Thursday, everyone was curious how they would follow up their historic rounds. Fowler birded the par-4 17th hole and almost converted another birdie on the par-4 18th hole, bringing his total of birdies in the U.S. Open to 18 in the tournament. That means he’s birdied half of the holes so far.
He’s 10-under for the sole lead.
After shooting an opening round 8-under par 62, the lowest round in the tournament's 123-year history, he followed that up with a 68 in the second round. That ties the 36-hole U.S. Open scoring record. (Martin Kaymer also scored a 130 in 2014.) Fowler is on the verge of making history, again. The record for the most birdies in a single U.S. Open is 22 by Brendan Steele in 2017 at Erin Hill. Fowler is only 4 birdies away from the record. Guy fucks.
Rory McIlroy:
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy followed his opening 65 with a 3-under 67 on Friday for his best start at a major since the 2014 PGA Championship, the last such event in which he claimed victory. McIlroy has put together an inspired strategy that is allowing him to work around the difficulties LACC presents as he sits firmly in the top five of the leaderboard with the afternoon wave attempting to rise above him. Rory has just been ripping absolute nukes off the tee box, and has been set himself to be in the mix this weekend.
Brooks Koepka:
Brooks Koepka will probably not win a U.S. Open citizenship award for his comments Friday at Los Angeles Country Club. “I'm not a huge fan of this place,’’ he said after his round of 1-under 69 that left him at even heading into the weekend. “I'm not a huge fan of blind tee shots, and then I think there's just some spots that no matter what you hit, the ball just ends up in the same spot,’’ he added. “I think it would be more fun to play on just like a regular round than it would be a U.S. Open. I mean, there's, what, two 8s yesterday. That doesn't happen.’’
I agree with Brooks, when you watch the US Open you expect carnage. You expect to see the course beat professional golfers down to their knees where they look like the members of country clubs who shoot +2 in normal course conditions. No one wants to see the US Open winner to finish -15, but here we are.
Cut Line (+2):
Just the top 60 scorers (plus ties) will advance to Rounds 3 and 4, set to be played on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. One hundred fifty-six players are testing their mettle at the 2023 U.S. Open.
Notable players outside the line: Phil Mickelson (+3), Jordan Spieth (+3), Max Homa (+4), Jason Day (+9), Justin Thomas (+14)
JT shot 11 over today....yikes.
Update Pre Round Bets:
To Win:
Brooks Koepka (+900) Even T30th
Max Homa (+2200) CUT
Cameron Smith (+2500) -4 10th
Rickie Fowler (+5000) -10 1st
Adam Scott (+8000) CUT
Phil Mickelson (+25,000) CUT
Top 10:
Scottie Scheffler (-150) -5 T8th
Xander Schauffele (+160) -8 T3rd
Hideki Matsuyama (+400) +1 T39th