The second round of the 123rd US Open at Los Angeles Country Club saw a course that was a bit more challenging Friday as no one scored an 8-under 62 like Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele both recorded Thursday.
With the top 60 and ties making the cut, players were trying to make it inside the cutline in order to make it to the weekend and have a chance to hoist the US Open trophy on Sunday afternoon.
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Here are four takeaways from the second round of the US Open.
US Open second round a bit more difficult than Round 1
Second-round play was a lot more difficult compared to Thursday’s first-round.
The best example is probably on the par-3 seventh. On Thursday, the seventh hole, which measured 258 yards and playing downhill. It was the seventh hardest hole on the course with 12 birdies and 42 bogeys.
On Friday, the seventh hole was lengthened to 299 yards for one of the longest par-3s in U.S. Open history. It was the hardest hole of the day with an average score of 3.5, a half stroke over par.
Both the par-3 seventh and the par-3 11th were extended about 40 yards for the field to have some fits.
A big part of the course being harder today compared to yesterday was the sun being able to break through the marine layer as the fairway and greens firmed up the course.
The earlier the sun breaks through the marine layer, the less southern California “June Gloom” and the more difficult the course will be for moving day during tomorrow’s third round and on championship Sunday.
Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele steady and remain in the hunt
Although Friday brought some tough conditions, the two leaders after Thursday remained near the top of the leaderboard.
Xander Schauffele did his best to not put extra strokes on the board with just a couple of pars. He bogeyed the long par-3 seventh as a result of his first three-putt and bogey of the tournament.
One of Schauffele’s best shots came on the par-3 ninth after his tee landed in the right greenside bunker after recording a birdie on the par-5 eighth. Schauffele was able to get his bunker shot to within seven feet and made that for par for a critical sand save.
On the other hand, Rickie Fowler was up and down. Although Fowler made three consecutive birdies to start his round, he would eventually give some of it back with five bogeys after six birdies through 13 holes.
Despite a roller-coaster afternoon, Fowler made a 23-foot birdie putt on the par-4 12th, the sixth hardest hole of the day in the midst of three bogeys in a four-hole stretch.
If Fowler continues to make putts, especially from mid to long-range, he will definitely be in contention for his first major as the tournament progresses.
Wyndham Clark able to hang with top stars
Being able to contend with Fowler and Schauffele over the first 36 holes has been Wyndham Clark, who entered the week at No. 8 in the FedEx Cup standings that was largely benefitted by his victory at the Wells Fargo Championship a couple of weeks before the PGA Championship last month.
Despite not playing at the Masters and missing the cut at the PGA Championship, Clark finished tied for 12th at the Memorial heading into this week’s US Open.
For how difficult the US Open is, par is your friend and bogey is your enemy. That was key for Clark as he recorded 13 pars and one bogey. Clark, who entered the day at -6 and tied for third, birdied the other four holes, including on the difficult, long par-4 16th. Clark hit the left side of the fairways about 350 yards. His approach shot got to 44 feet and had the right speed and right line to make a birdie.
Two holes before on the par-5 14th, Clark put himself in a difficult situation. His approach landed along a hill with a little more than 80 yards to go. Clark’s stance was abnormal but he was able to pull off the flop shot and make a 12-footer and get up and down for birdie.
Min Woo Lee records one of the best Round 2s at US Open
Also making a move on the cut day was Min Woo Lee — who had tied for sixth at The PLAYERS Championship in March.
On a difficult day, Lee was shine with a 5-under 65 that was highlighted by three birdies on both sides of his scorecard and just one bogey on his day.
Lee birdied both par-5s of the front nine and also took off a stroke on the drivable par-4 sixth. The Australian played the hole to perfection, hitting the ball in the fairway, about 260 yards. He then had about a 55-yard approach shot and was able to get within eight feet of the cup, which he made for birdie.
Then on the back nine, Lee went bogey-free bookending his final nine holes with birdies on the 10th and the 18th. On both of those holes, he landed both of his approach shots to within eight feet of the pin to set up short birdie putts.
Lee was seventh on the day in strokes gained: Putting, taking off almost three strokes. He was also fifth in strokes gained: off the tee, taking off nearly a shot and a half. To top it off, Lee led the field with 7.18 total strokes gained.