A pretty good day for Paul Casey, then. And who’d have thought that when he was running up eight on 14? Moving Day promises to be a blast! See you all tomorrow!
-7: Casey, Harman, Fleetwood, Koepka
-6: Lovemark, Fowler, Holmes
-5: Kim, Schauffele, Champ (a), Snedeker, Matsuyama
-4: Steele, Leishman, English, Haas, Hoffman, Reavie
-3: McGirt, Henley, Garcia, Wiesberger, Kaymer
Martin Kaymer makes a regal hash of 18, hitting a fat wedge to the front of the green, then failing to hit the long uphill putt he leaves himself. He sends his par putt three feet past. He tucks away the one coming back, so that’s a bogey but nevertheless an impressive 69. He’s -3 and well placed. Jordan Spieth sends a 15-foot birdie putt towards the hole, only for it to die off to the right at the end. Par, and he goes into the weekend level. And it’s goodbye to big Dustin, who chips up from the back and takes two putts for par. A 73 to follow yesterday’s 75, and he’ll always have Oakmont.
The 18th hole is playing at 676 yards today. Dustin Johnson has just sent his second shot 30 yards through the green. He’s going home, guaranteed to miss the cut now, but what a way for the defending champion to say goodbye. He allows himself a wry smile as he ambles up the fairway.
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Pressure? What pressure? Jordan Spieth flips a stunning wedge up the bank at 17 and his ball rests gently 18 inches from the flag. He’ll save his par and will surely be here this weekend. Martin Kaymer, who had sent his second over the flag to 12 feet, rolls in the putt for a birdie that takes him to -4. The 2014 champion is right in this now! But the reigning champ is for the off. Dustin chooses to putt up the bank, undercooks it, and ends with a bogey. He’s +4, and away home. Meanwhile up on 9, JB Holmes pars to sign for his second 69 of the week. He’s a shot off the lead.
Jordan Spieth is putting a little pressure on himself. A flyer from the first cut at 17 sends his ball down the big bank at the back of the green. If he doesn’t get up and down from there, a bogey down the last would send the 2015 champ packing. That’s statistically unlikely; there have only been 26 bogeys or worse on 18 today. But still. Dustin Johnson’s jig is nearly up, though; he needs to end birdie-birdie, but his approach to 17 is short and right. Eagle up the last? And even then he needs to get up and down here.
The projected cut is +1. Here’s who we’ll be losing: Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, Charl Schwartzel, Bubba Watson, Graeme McDowell, Angel Cabrera, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Jason Day and Jimmy Walker. Some big names all right. Add Dustin Johnson if he doesn’t birdie the 17th and 18th.
Koepka misses his short birdie putt on 9. There goes a chance to grab the outright lead! He taps in for par, and signs for a 70. He’s got a share at -7. Meanwhile at 15, Dustin nearly drives the green, then takes three to get down. He really needed a birdie, but remains at +3. Three holes left, two shots required to save himself for the weekend. Jordan Spieth’s not making life easy for himself, either: a missed tiddler for par and he slips back to even par, dangerously close to that +1 cut line. It only takes a double...
Fowler misreads his left-to-right slider, leaving it on the high side. He signs for a 73. Not ideal after that opening 65, but he’s right in the mix for the weekend at -6. Matsuyama can’t finish off with birdie either, and he’ll make do with par and a 65. That could easily have been a 63. Or... gulp... even better. A missed opportunity. Not that he’ll care about that particular record too much. He’s played his way right into contention. He’s -5, two off the lead, some result after yesterday’s thoroughly average 74.
There could be some more movement on the leader board soon. Because Brooks Koepka clatters his tee shot at the par-three 9th to six feet! Meanwhile over on 18, Rickie Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama both go close with wedges to set up birdie putts inside ten feet.
Brian Harman can’t make his birdie putt on 18. He signs for a 70. But Tommy Fleetwood can! His birdie secures a 70 as well, and he’s the second Englishman in the clubhouse with a current share of the lead! JB Holmes races in a 20-footer on 7 meanwhile for birdie.
-7: Casey (F), Harman (F), Fleetwood (F), Koepka (17*)
-6: Lovemark (F), Fowler (17), Holmes (16*)
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The projected cut is +1. The defending champion Dustin Johnson is +3, having just three-putted the par-five 14th. If he fails to make the cut, he’ll be in good company. Since 1993, Tom Kite, Lee Janzen, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell, Angel Cabrera, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer have all suffered that particular humiliation. It’d also be the first time the top three players in the world rankings have all failed to make the weekend at a major, McIlroy and Jason Day having already packed their bags. No pressure, then, big man!
Brian Harman hasn’t got the length to reach the 18th in two blasts. But golf’s not all about boom-boom power. Two controlled woods, followed by a wedge, and he’s got a 12-foot putt that would give him the outright lead. Tommy Fleetwood, an infinitely bigger hitter, still opts to lay up, and he wedges close as well. Meanwhile over on 9, Chez Reavie comes close to a birdie, but settles for par that gives him a seven-under 65. He’s -4 overall.
Fowler’s bump up onto the green from the back of 17 isn’t bad, but it isn’t great. He’s left with a testing eight footer for his par. And in it goes! That’s a steal, really. He was always chasing that par. But he’s made it, and remains at -6. Matsuyama meanwhile shortsides himself down a big bank to the left, but chips up delightfully to a couple of feet and stays at -5. Holmes meanwhile drops one at 6. This is one congested leader board!
-7: Casey (F), Harman (17), Koepka (16*)
-6: Lovemark (F), Fleetwood (F), Fowler (17)
-5: Kim (F), Schauffele (F), Champ -a- (F), Snedeker (17*), Matsuyama (17), Holmes (15*)
Tommy Fleetwood putts to save his par from the fringe at 17. Nope. He drops back to -6. Par for Brooks Koepka at 7. Fowler meanwhile shoots his second straight through the green at 17, spin a pipe dream from the rough. Even so, that’s a better result than anything he could have managed from thicker fescue, so his luck’s still in. Meanwhile the move of the late afternoon has been made by Jamie Lovemark. The Californian, whose only mark in the majors was a top 20 finish a couple of years ago at Chambers Bay, has come back in 32 strokes: birdies at 10, 13, 15 and finally one at 18 earned with a 30-foot tramliner. It’s back-to-back 69s for him, and he’s sitting very nicely at -6, one off the lead!
Fowler gets away with a wild drive down the left of 17. By rights, he should be in thick fescue. But he’s found an area trodden down by punters. Let’s see if he can take advantage of the break, and at least escape with his par. Up on the green, Brian Harman - a small guy, short hitter, and left-handed, so he’s talking my language - nearly drains a long birdie putt for the outright lead. It slips by on the left, but only just, and he’ll make his par to remain at -7.
A momentum shifter for Rickie Fowler on 16! He finds the sand to the left of the green. It’s not a pleasant lie, with long grass hassling him on the backswing. But he splashes out to a couple of feet, a stunning, delicate, determined shot. He remains at -6. His playing partner Hideki Matsuyama lags up from distance to secure his par; he’s -5 still. Just the one birdie since turning in 30 for the Japanese star, at 13. So no 62 for him unless he finishes birdie-eagle. Or for Chez Reavie, unless something even dafter is about to happen. Reavie bogeyed 5 but picked the shot back up at 7. He’s seven under for his round with a couple of holes to play. A birdie, hole-in-one finish would give him a 62. But, well, y’know. Hey, it was nice to dream.
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I was banging on earlier about Patrick Reed making a statement birdie at 9. Sure enough, then, he’s almost immediately gone on to jigger his momentum completely with double at 12. He’s dropped back to -3, though the ship’s been steadied with par at 13. Meanwhile Charley Hoffman finishes with birdie on 18, and he’s signing for a second 70. He’s -4 and nicely poised for Moving Day.
Brooks Koepka can’t make his par putt on 6, and suddenly it’s a four-way tie at the top! Look at this!
-7: Casey (F), Harman (16), Fleetwood (16), Koepka (15*)
-6: Fowler (15), Holmes (13*)
Tommy Fleetwood nearly guides in a snaky 25-footer on 16 for a share of the lead. He’ll have to settle for par, staying at -7. But he might have a share soon anyway, because there’s trouble at mill for the leader Brooks Koepka, who wangs his tee shot at 6 towards a stand on the left. That’s a big miss, though the fescue has been trampled down by the gallery. Had that shot been less off-line, he might have been in serious bother. As it is, he chips to ten feet, and has a chance to scramble his par. Incidentally, should he miss, it won’t just be Fleetwood taking advantage; Brian Harman, Fleetwood’s playing partner, stuck his tee shot to three feet and tapped in for his birdie. He’s -7 as well.
Brandt Snedeker has rattled in some long putts today. The latest, from 30 feet up the long par-three 6th, gives him a birdie that takes him to -5. He holds his putter in the air like a warrior, then gives up on the pose to laugh and shrug instead. Birdie for Dustin Johnson meanwhile at 12; he rises to +1 and the cut suddenly seems less scary.
Thanks again to Dr Miller, always on call to nurse my flagging motor skills. Here, this is turning into a very interesting tournament as the leader board concertinas up. JB Holmes rolls in a birdie putt on 4 to move to -6. A couple of top-five finishes in the majors last year for John Bradley. It wouldn’t be a huge shock were he to make the leap. Par for the leader Koepka meanwhile on 5. And Martin Kaymer is going very nicely right now. Birdies at 7, 9 and 11 have brought him to -3. He’s sent his tee shot at 12 up a bank to the right of the hole, but he’s punched a clever second out, sending his ball bumping onto the green in the old-fashioned Scottish style. He’ll save his par from there, surely. And the 2014 champion has quietly worked his way into contention. You have to admire his style.
And now, Scott Murray is back to take you home. Cheers!
...but he sends it to the right of the hole! He shakes his head, with the look of a man whose computer is broken and he can’t work out why. He puts the par away from a couple of feet, so at least he’s stopped the bleeding. For now.
Fowler desperately trying to spark something or other, and sends a fine drive down the 14th which grips on the green and spins back, almost into the hole. Close to an eagle, which would have taken him back to the top of the leaderboard. A birdie is still very much on though, with a putt of six or seven feet...
Are the wheels coming off for Fowler? After going 28 holes without a bogey, he’s now recorded three in a row, missing a fairly lengthy putt on 13 and he drops down to -6, and level third with Harman. On the same hole, Koepka finds himself in some strife in a bunker, but produces a nice shot to get himself back in business, overshooting the pin a little - but it’s preferable to lurking in the sand. He putts between two sprinklers from just off the green, gets to within five feet or so then sends that down to save par. Also on 13, Matsuyama sends down a belter from nearly feet - he’s still tied for sixth, but fairly remarkably that’s -7 on the day for the Japanese.
-8: Koepka (13*)
-7: Casey (F), Fleetwood (14)
-6: Fowler (13), Harman (13)
Down on 16, Charlie Harman - in third, currently - just doesn’t quite give a putt enough juice for a birdie, and has to settle for a par. Back in the field a little, both Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth don’t make reasonably tricky putts on 10.
And he needs a big glass of milk! The putt takes a trip around the lip of the hole, Fowler drops a shot and Koepka has the sole lead!
-8: Koepka (12*)
-7: Fowler (12), Casey (F), Fleetwood (13)
-6: Harman (13)
Hello again, world. Fleetwood’s putt on 13 slides just past the hole and he’ll have to settle for par and second place for now. But Fowler could be about to lend a hand - he undercooks a relatively straightforward drive from the middle of the fairway on 12, and his ball lands shy of the green. He rolls up to about five or six feet, and leaves himself with a mildly spicy putt - more of a jalfresi than a madras, but still...
The live coverage seems to have ground to something of a halt right now. A lot of chat, very little action. Which is odd, as Tommy Fleetwood recently clipped his tee shot at the par-three 13th pin high. He’ll have a good look at birdie and a share of the lead from 15 feet. And I’ll let your friend and mine, Nick Miller, have the honour of talking you through that one. See you again soon!
A bit of bother for the leader Rickie Fowler at 11. He’s wild with his tee shot. He then takes an aggressive line over the flag with his second and falls off the back of the green. He sends his chip behind the flag, hoping to use the banking of the green to send the ball back towards the cup. But it u-bends round way to the left, and he can’t knock in the 15-footer he leaves himself. Nearly, but not quite. He’s back to -8 and a share of the lead. Hideki Matsuyama then yips a tiddler for another birdie. Maybe that 62 was a pipe dream after all. He stays at -4. Meanwhile there’s a birdie for Tommy Fleetwood on 12, and the man from Southport is just one shot off the lead in the US Open!
-8: Fowler (11), Koepka (11*)
-7: Casey (F), Fleetwood (12)
-6: Harman (12)
Patrick Reed has been fairly quiet so far, level par through the first eight holes, a bogey at 6, a birdie at 8. But now he sends a gentle draw into the par-three 9th, the ball pitching six feet from the flag and stopping a couple of rolls short of a hole-in-one! What a gorgeous shot. He reaches the turn in 35, moves to -5, and has suddenly reminded everyone that he’s there. He’s alongside JB Holmes, who has hovered in quite a few majors of late, and has played the back nine in 34 today.
Brooks Koepka can’t make his long par saver across 1, and that’s only his second bogey of the week so far. He drops out of the lead, to -8. Meanwhile a long rake across 17 gives two-time champ Ernie Els yet another birdie. The veteran is -4, and suddenly the 1990s don’t seem such a long time ago.
-9: Fowler (10)
-8: Koepka (10*)
-7: Casey (F)
-6: Harman (11), Fleetwood (11)
The man from Wichita is lining up the birdies yet again. Chez Reavie played the back nine in 31 strokes; now he’s picked up shots at 1 and 2 as well. He’s seven under for his round through 11 holes, and with the wind down, we’re now obliged to start thinking about the first-ever 62 in major-championship golf. And if Reavie doesn’t manage it, how about Matsuyama, who is six under for his round after 10? OK, there’s a fair way to go yet. But c’mon! What’s the point in following sport if you’re not allowed to dream?!
Neither Fowler nor Matsuyama can make their birdie putts at 10. Never mind, pars all round. And there’s a fair chance Fowler will have the sole leadership in a moment anyway, because on 1, Koepka blasts out of the fescue and straight through the green. It’s difficult holding the chip coming back, and he faces a 25-footer to save his par.
Trouble for the co-leader Brooks Koepka at 1. He sends his second into deep fescue down the left. That’s marked out as a hazard, though he might get a swing at the ball. We’ll see. On 7, Martin Kaymer is very close to draining a long eagle putt from the fringe at the back. A birdie will do, and he’s back up to -1. Dustin has a fairly simple right-to-left glider from 12 feet for his birdie, but he doesn’t hit it. He’s still +1. And Jordan Spieth blasts out to five feet from a bunker, then knocks in the putt for his birdie. He’s -1.
A magnificent par save by Tommy Fleetwood at 10. His approach to the long par four finds the green, but kinks off to the left, down the ridge running through the playing surface. He’s left with a long two putts up a big slope for his par; he lags up to four feet and tidies up. He stays at -6. Coming behind, both Fowler and Matsuyama find the top tier where the pin is, and they’ll have mid-range chances for birdie. Pars should be a shoo-in, as much as they ever are at a US Open.
Fowler rolls his par putt into the centre of the cup. He reaches the turn in 34 strokes, not bad at all when you’re feeling the pressure at the top of a US Open leader board. Matsuyama follows him in, tidying up for a stunning outward-bound 30. They remain at -9 and -4 respectively.
The long par-three 6th takes a bite out of Jordan Spieth, who pushes a nervy par putt to the right. He drops back to level par and flashes his putter through the air in irritation. Dustin meanwhile makes a staunch 12-foot par saver to stay at +1. Up on 9, neither Matsuyama nor Fowler get close with their tee shots. Fowler has a decent look at birdie from the front of the green, the pin at the back, though he leaves himself a five footer coming back. Matsuyama is wide right, 35 feet from the pin. And he nearly makes the birdie, which would have seen him out in a record-equalling 29! But it shaves the right of the hole. He’ll have a bit of work coming back too.
Yet another birdie for Hideki Matsuyama! His sixth in eight holes! A fairly straight 25 footer, a little left-to-right slide maybe. But that was in all the way! He really does love a birdie blitz, does Matsuyama. That putter is either stone cold or piping hot. He’s -4 and right in this now. A birdie at 9, and he’ll match the US Open front nine record. Meanwhile Brian Harman has been relatively quiet today. Bogey at 5, birdie at 7. But he’s not far away from holing in one at 9. His ball pitches a couple of feet to the right of the cup, and he’s left with maybe a four footer for a birdie that’ll take him out in 35 and up to -6 overall.
Dustin very nearly tramlines a 30-footer for birdie at 5, but remains at +1. Ditto Martin Kaymer, who stays at level par (having bogeyed the 4th). Spieth makes it three pars out of three, failing to hit a straight 15-footer. He’s -1. None of these chaps are out of this US Open by any means, though all could do with a little birdie blitz somewhere along the line. They always help. None of them quite looking like men ready to seize the day. Yet. Plenty of time. Meanwhile Brandt Snedeker’s putter remains hot. He rolls one in from 20 feet on 17, and he’s nicely placed at -4.
Rickie Fowler’s shoulders were slumping a little. He’d been overhauled at the top of the leader board, and the spark of yesterday wasn’t quite in evidence. His chip into the par-five 7th wasn’t too great, and nearly fell off the back of the green. But now! He rakes in a huge right-to-left curler, a perfect read, the perfect pace. A birdie out of nothing, and he’s co-leader of this tournament again! His playing partner Hideki Matsuyama birdies in a very different manner, landing his approach a couple of feet from the pin and tapping in. He’s -3. Incidentally, in the group ahead, Tommy Fleetwood birdied this hole too, and is now very much a feature of the leader board!
-9: Fowler (7), Koepka (7*)
-7: Casey (F)
-6: Fleetwood (7)
JB Holmes nearly holes out from the middle of the 14th fairway. It was a delightful approach, the ball pitching a couple of feet behind the flag and spinning back. Nine times out of ten it would have surely serenely dropped into the hole, but this time it somehow span out. So unlucky, but he’ll have a tap-in for birdie that’ll take him to -5. Word meanwhile of Hideki Matsuyama, who did hole out from the fairway at 15 yesterday. He’s flying today, with birdies at 1, 2, 4 and 6. After a disappointing first-round 74, that’s catapulted him up the leader board to -2.
The hottest player out on the course right now: Chez Reavie. The Wichita man is lining up the birdies: four in a row between 11 and 14, then another at 16. He’s five under for his round and -2 overall. Meanwhile Dustin and Spieth pepper the flag at 4. Wedges to four and eight feet respectively. But while Spieth knocks his in, dead eyed, Dustin lets his slip away to the right. Spieth moves under par for the championship, while the defending champion stays at +1.
But not for long! Brooks Koepka clips his tee shot at the par-three 16th pin high. He’s got a 12-footer across the green. And in it goes! We have a new leader!
-9: Koepka (7*)
-8: Fowler (6)
-7: Casey (F)
Charley Hoffman leaves his tee shot at 9 a good 60 feet short of the hole. But he lags it up brilliantly. He really should escape with his par, but pushes a dismal putt to the right, the ball looping round the back of the hole and staying out. The crowd gasp in shock. He’s reached the turn in 33 strokes nevertheless, but dearie me. He drops back to -5. Fowler meanwhile chips rather than putts from the fringe at the front of the mammoth 6th green. He loops it straight at the flag, and rolls in the five footer he leaves himself. He’s still blemish free in this US Open, and still one of the tournament’s joint leaders!
A fine scramble on the long par-three 6th for Tommy Fleetwood. His tee shot sailed right of the green; a chip to six feet and solid putt later, and he’s escaped. He stays at -5. Coming behind, the co-leader Rickie Fowler leaves himself well short of the green; that’ll be a test to avoid his first bogey of the tournament. Meanwhile back on 3, Spieth and Dustin both knock in missable ten footers to save their pars and keep hold of their momentum. And up on 15, Koepka shaves the hole with a 15-foot birdie effort that would have given him the sole lead.
Brooks Koepka reaches the par-five 14th in two big bashes. He’s got a good look at eagle from 15 feet, but races the effort well past. No problem, he slots away the birdie putt coming back. And with a positive attitude like that, he isn’t going to die wondering. He joins Rickie Fowler in a tie for the lead at -8.
-8: Koepka (5*), Fowler (4)
-7: Casey (F)
-6: Hoffman (8)
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Brandt Snedeker sends a right-to-left slider into the cup at 14 for birdie; he’s -3. Tommy Fleetwood very nearly drains a 60-footer on 5 for birdie, but he’ll be happy enough to stay at -5. Meanwhile the two-time champion Ernie Els rolls a 20-footer into the cup at 11; he’s -3. A doddle for the Big Easy right now.
Jordan Spieth is a dimple’s width away from guiding in a glorious left-to-right 25 footer for birdie on 2. He squats down and holds his head in his hands. And no wonder! How did that stay out? But it’s a birdie-birdie start for his partner Dustin Johnson, who bombs a drive to the fringe of the green, chips up to three feet, and taps in. He’s +1, and on the move! He’ll not have given up the defence of his title quite yet, no way. Meanwhile there’s another birdie for Charley Hoffman, this time at 7, and he’s bothering the business end of the leader board at -6.
Rory McIlroy speaks to Sky Sports. “It’s funny. Whenever you don’t have so much pressure on you, you can freewheel a bit and play with freedom. I really could have birdied every hole on the way in. It’s much better today. But it’s game time, it’s competitive rounds, and I’ve been very light on those this year. I’m looking forward to playing some golf over the summer and hopefully improve. I’ve no real concerns though I struggled in this championship.”
Rickie Fowler isn’t far away from knocking in a 25-footer for birdie on 4. Though in truth it never looked like actually dropping. He remains at -8. A bit of a lull on the course, so here’s a little admin from earlier. Eddie Pepperell finished very strongly, with birdies at 13, 14 and 17. He ended with a 71 that sits very nicely alongside yesterday’s 72. A slightly disappointing end to Matt Fitzpatrick’s day, though; a six at the last means he ended up with a 73. Both Englishmen are on -1 at the halfway stage.
Tommy Fleetwood repairs the damage of the opening hole with birdie at 4. He’s back to -5. Zach Johnson opens birdie-birdie and moves to -2. Meanwhile the marquee group back on 1 turn up the gas. The 2015 champion Jordan Spieth lays up, chips to six feet, and rolls in the birdie putt for a birdie that takes him back to level par. Dustin gets up and down from the bank without much fuss, and the birdie takes him to +2. And Kaymer misses his very gettable eagle putt, but he’d have taken an opening-hole birdie ten minutes ago, and he’s up to -1. A perfect start to the day for the three erstwhile winners.
Brooks Koepka clips his second at 12 to a couple of feet and taps in for birdie. He moves to -7, one shot shy of Rickie Fowler, who calmly pars 3. Back on 1, the 2014 champion Martin Kaymer lashes a fairway wood to six feet, one of the shots of the day. He’ll have a great look at eagle. Dustin toys with the fescue to the left of the green, but his ball stays out, and he’ll have a chance to get up and down for his birdie.
-8: Fowler (3)
-7: Casey (F), Koepka (3*)
Here comes the defending champion Dustin Johnson! And he blooters a monster down the track at 1. He’s got it all to do after an opening round of 75; he’ll be missing the cut as things stand. And if he does, this will be the first time the world number one, two and three have all gone home after two rounds of a major. To recap: number three Jason Day added a 75 to his first-round 79 today, +10 overall, while number two Rory McIlroy rallied marvellously with four birdies in the last six holes, though his 71 was no good at all after yesterday’s god-awful 78. Still, there’s a reminder of his singular talent; if he can get his competitive chops up ahead of Birkdale, anything is possible.
Rickie Fowler reclaims sole ownership of the lead! He eases a delightful wedge to six feet at 2, and knocks in the birdie putt. He’s -8. And that’s 17 putts from 17 inside ten feet this week so far. Xander Schauffele meanwhile tidies up for par on 18 and signs for a 73. The young man parred his way home after suffering that double bogey on 13, a very fine effort indeed. He’s -5 at the halfway mark. And how about his playing partner, the amateur Cameron Champ? It’s nominative determinism in full effect, because the 22-year-old American has signed for a 69. That goes alongside yesterday’s 70; he’s -5! Champion golf all right. And on 5, Charley Hoffman rolls in a 40-foot right-to-left drifter for his third birdie of the day. He’s -5 too.
-8: Fowler (2)
-7: Casey (F)
-6: Koepke (2*)
-5: Kim (F), Schauffele (F), Champ -a- (F), Hoffman (5), Harman (2)
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Brooks Koepka makes an early move, draining a 25-footer on 11. He’s one behind Casey and Fowler at -6. A fast start to the second round for Charley Hoffman, who birdies 1 and 2 to move up to -4. But there’s no good news on the opening hole for Lee Westwood, who leaves himself a massive left-to-right breaker for his par. He seriously overcooks the putt, and he’s got a 12-footer coming back for bogey. He does very well to tuck that one away, limiting the damage. He drops to -2.
Thanks to Nick! So there’s something of a lull right now, as the morning wave crash into the clubhouse, while the afternoon lot get their gamefaces on. The joint leader Rickie Fowler had a long look at birdie on 1 but settled for par. Meanwhile Tommy Fleetwood, Southport’s Tommy Fleetwood, Everton’s Tommy Fleetwood, opened with an unfortunate bogey at 1. He’s steadied the ship by getting up and down from the side of the green at 2 for par. Onwards and upwards! He’s -4.
And now the much more capable Scott Murray is back, so he’ll be with you again for the next few hours. Enjoy!
Home favourite Steve Stricker gets a warm hand as he approaches his final hole, making par to finish his second round on +1.
Care for a little light reading? Ewan Murray brings you the story of the Erin Hills course architect, currently doing porridge to the tune of 35 years for murder.
And here’s Rickie Fowler, starting his second round as joint-leader. Meanwhile, Jason Day is done, and he’s probably pretty happy about it. He finishes on +10 for the tournament.
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“Jesus Christ,” curses Justin Rose as he strikes his tee shot on 16 - and with good reason, as ball meets sand. He bogies to make him +1 for the round and the tournament, which makes him touch and go for the cut. At least he has a chance, mind: McIlroy, not so much, although he does tickle in that putt to finish on a birdie, but he’s +5 and is heading home.
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Casey finishes second round on -7, shares the lead
Casey makes par on the ninth and finishes his second round on -7, and heads inside as joint leader of the tournament. Smashing work from the Englishman who can now kick back with a mojito and see what Rickie Fowler manages. Meanwhile McIlroy is next up on the ninth, and after managing a few birdies to salvage something approaching pride in this round, sticks a brilliant tee shot to within about a foot of the pin.
-7: Casey (F), Fowler
-5: Kim (F), Schauffele (15), Harman, Fleetwood, Koepka
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Casey’s tee on the par-three ninth is nicely-struck, putting him within about 20 feet of the hole. But playing partner Justin Thomas puts his just a little closer - both men will do well to putt from there, mind. Justin Rose very nearly sinks one from way downtown on the 16th, but it slides past the hole and he’s left with a very ticklish putt.
Evening all. Nick here for a little bit. First thing to mention is that 2016 Masters winner Danny Willett has dropped out. Not that he was a particular factor here - he shot 81 yesterday, was thus probably going to miss the cut and has been struggling with a back problem.
Scott has an awkward stance in the bunker too, one foot in, one out. He splashes out, but doesn’t give it quite enough, and his ball snags in the bunker. He needs to chip in to make the cut, you’d have thought. But he can’t. A fine effort, a delicate right-to-left clip, but it turns too early and slides by the left. That’s a closing bogey, and he’s +3. His putting killed him today. Maybe the cut will be his friend. Maybe not. And then Sergio fails to give his fairly straight birdie putt enough oomph, and he settles for par and a 71. He’s -3, and set up nicely for the weekend.
And with that, I’ll hand you over to Nick Miller. See you again very soon.
Just like yesterday, Adam Scott stages a fightback during the closing stages of his round. Again finding himself adrift at +4, he birdies 7 and 8. Another at 9 could see him survive the projected cut at +1. But his tee shot topples into a bunker at the back. He’ll have a tricky downhill lie and not much green to play with. A par is a must: +2 might save him if the greens get a bit harder this afternoon and a few of the late starters slip, allowing the cut to move out. His partner Sergio meanwhile arrows his tee shot straight at the flag. He’ll have a good look for birdie.
Harris English nearly guides a right-to-left birdie curler into the hole from the fringe at the back of 9. But a par for a 69 will have to do. Added to yesterday’s 71, he’s in a good place at -4. Brendan Steele ends up with a 69 to go with his 71 as well. Russell Henley cards 70 to go with yesterday’s 71; he’s -3. And Marc Leishman was never quite on his game today, but a level-par 72 keeps him at -4 overall.
Trouble for Xander Schauffele at the par-three 13th. His tee shot finds the thick fringe, and he overhits the bump out, sending the ball off the other side of the green. His chip up is no good, and his bogey putt from 20 feet flies wide right. That’s his first double-bogey in major-championship golf, and he’s out of the lead now, slipping back to -5. Also back to -5: Si Woo Kim, whose tee shot at the short 9th goes into sand at the back. He’s shortsided, and though he does very well to splash to six feet, the par putt shaves the hole and he has to settle for a bogey. That’s still a fine round of 70 to go with yesterday’s 69. A couple of young players in prime position for the weekend.
-7: Casey (15*), Fowler
-5: Kim (F), Schauffele (13), Harman, Fleetwood, Koepka
Brendan Steele is finishing strongly. Birdies at 16 and 17, and he’s -4 overall now. Harris English has birdied 5, 7 and 8 and is sat nicely at -4 too. Meanwhile McIlroy can’t convert a third birdie in a row at 6, but at least he’s got a couple of positive memories to take away with him now. “My only complaint about the fescue grass is that they didn’t use the blue variety,” writes Andy Gordon. “Imagine a major course designed by Hunter S Thompson.”
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Sergio rolls a 25-foot birdie putt across the par-five 7th and into the cup. He’s -3; the Masters champion is in decent nick, four off the lead. McIlroy meanwhile makes his birdie at 5, rising to +7. And he’s just creamed a wonderful tee shot pin high at 6. Far too little, too late, but at least the world number two is leaving a calling card ahead of next month’s Open at Birkdale. See: this is what I can do. As for world number three Jason Day: he doubled 5 after those jungle-related mishaps, and he’s back down at +9, a week best forgotten.
Should you need any other reason to love Beef: he’s sponsored by Arby’s, David Puddy’s favourite restaurant. But back to his golf. A decent tee shot into 9 takes an unlucky kick to the right and nestles between two greenside bunkers. He does very well to get up and down for par, and signs for a 73. Not ideal today, but at -2 overall he’s set fair for the weekend.
Schauffele creams a blind drive down the middle of 12, wedges close, and curls in a six-footer for birdie and a share of the lead at -7. Casey has a chance to go one better, bumping his tee shot at the long par-three 6th to 15 feet. But he can’t make his birdie putt. His playing partner Justin Thomas can, though. He guided a delicious tee shot pin high to six feet, and strokes in the birdie putt. That’s back-to-back birdies, and he’s -3.
McIlroy has gone demob happy. He splits the fairway at 5, then lands a 150-yard wedge three feet from the cup. Golf’s easier when you don’t care any more. His playing partner Jason Day, meanwhile, is hacking his way up the hole, having found fescue, then more fescue. That stuff is lethal. Day’s one of the strongest players on tour, yet he can’t keep hold of his club when the grass wraps itself around the hosel.
Kim misses a four-foot birdie putt on 7 to tie the lead. A short one pulled to the left. A very poor miss. He stays at -6. Casey meanwhile very nearly drains a 20-footer on 5 for birdie and the outright lead, but that one slips by and he remains at -7. And it’s birdie for Rory on 4, which earns him some sympathetic applause. He won’t enjoy a single handclap of that. He’s +8 and going home soon enough.
More dismal news of Rory McIlroy, who really does need to get some competitive action under his belt before the Open. He’s seriously undercooked at the moment, and has just carded three bogeys in a row, at 1, 2 and 3. He’s +9 overall, a sorry show for the world number two. Meanwhile it’s a second bogey in a row for Beef, who drops another shot at 7. He drops back to -2.
Nope, it was asking too much. Casey can’t convert a 40-foot putt on 4 and has to settle for par and a share of the lead. But this is some going, given the narrative arc of his round, nonetheless.
-7: Casey (13*), Fowler
-6: Kim (15*), Schauffele (10)
While we wait on news of Casey ... here’s the story of Denis Watson, one of the unluckiest golfers in US Open history.
A fifth straight birdie for Paul Casey! This is outstanding, given the state he’d got himself into a couple of hours ago! The latest comes at 3, and it gives him a share of the lead at -7! Adam Hadwin became only the third man in US Open history to card six birdies in a row just yesterday. Can Casey join Hadwin, George Burns (1982) and Andy Dillard (1992) in the record books?
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Shane Lowry came so very close to glory in the US Open last year. He won’t be making up for his fourth-round collapse at Oakmont this time round. He’s out in 39 strokes, with bogeys at 2, 4, 8 and 9 not remotely balanced out by a single birdie at 7. He drops to +2.
It couldn’t last. Xander Schauffele finally drops a shot in major-championship golf. A bogey at 9, his first in 27 holes. It costs him a share of Rickie Fowler’s lead, and he’s back in the -6 pack with Si Woo Kim and Paul Casey. Meanwhile Beef gives up the shot he gained at 5 with bogey at 6, and Marc Leishman slips backwards again with bogey at 4; they’re both at -3 now.
-7: Fowler
-6: Kim (14*), Casey (11*), Schauffele (9)
Justin Rose keeps on scrapping. A birdie at 1, followed by a staunch par at 2, having found sand with his drive. He’s -1: not playing well, but making sure he’s not out of contention ahead of the weekend. Hopefully some form is a-comin’ around the corner.
Justin Thomas is only 24, so it’s perfectly understandable that he’s not featured seriously at a major yet. But his talent is such that we’re expecting his involvement in one sometime soon. Could this be the week? After an average opening-day 73, and bogey at 12 this morning, the wise answer would have been no. But he birdied 15, 16 and 17, and has just made another at 2. All of a sudden, he’s putting together one of the more impressive rounds out there today, and is -2 overall.
Birdie for Beef! He’s been going along quietly, but birdie at 5 springs him up the leader board to -4. He’s there alongside the hot Bill Haas, who picks up his fourth birdie of the day at 12. And William McGirt, who tied for tenth at the last PGA and was also in the mix at the Masters recently, is -4 too, going along nicely after birdie at 14.
Sergio moves backwards with a three-putt from distance on the long, difficult, par-three 3rd. He’s back to -2. Also heading the wrong way: Rory McIlroy, who three-putts from six feet on 1 to fall back to +7. But Paul Casey makes it four birdies in a row at 2! This is an astonishing response to that early-round collapse, when he dropped five shots in four holes. He’s back to level par for his round, a shot off the lead at -6!
-7: Schauffele (8), Fowler
-6: Kim (13*), Casey (11*)
You have to take your hat off to Paul Casey. That triple bogey on 14 would have taken the wind out of most players. But he’s just carded his third birdie in a row, this time at 1, to clamber right back into serious contention. He’s -5 again, just two off Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler’s lead. This experience might stand him in good stead over the weekend, when the going really gets tough.
-7: Schauffele (7), Fowler
-6: Kim (12*)
-5: Casey (10*), Harman, Fleetwood, Koepka
Bounce-back birdie for Justin Rose at 18. He’d left his third at the par five, a short chip into the green, a good 12 feet short of the hole. But he rattles in the putt and has played the back nine in 36. He’s still at level par. Meanwhile a three-putt from short distance at 2 by Adam Scott, and that’s another dropped shot. He’s suddenly down at +3, and his weekend participation looks in the balance now.
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Marc Leishman has bounced back from a poor start to his round. Birdies at 13 and 15 dropped him down the leader board, but he’s back to where he started, -4, after birdies at 18 and 2. Justin Rose is going backwards, though: a double at 17 drops him to +1.
Bryson DeChambeau is hideously out of form right now. Not the time to be heading into a US Open on a beast of a course. He shot a very average 74 yesterday, and today is shaping up to be a total nightmare: bogeys at 1, 3 and 6, and now back-to-back double bogeys at 9 and 10. He’s already seven over for his round, +9 overall, and will be dreaming of home.
Back-to-back birdies for Paul Casey, the latest at 18! What a fine response this is to dropping five strokes in four holes. He’s back up to -4, and will be feeling very good about himself right now, despite making triple bogey not so long ago. Strange game, golf, eh. Meanwhile Scott leaves his 150-yard wedge short of 1, then leaves his chip eight feet short. He doesn’t make the bogey putt, and very nearly gives the one footer that remains the old Doug Sanders. The hole somehow snaffles an awful yip, but that’s still a double bogey that drops him back to +2. A total momentum killer.
Satoshi Kodaira continues to impress. Having reached the turn in 33, he dropped a stroke at 10, but he’s responded with back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12. He’s four under for his round today, the best out there so far. He’s -3 overall, and in a tie for tenth spot. Russell Henley meanwhile could only turn in 34, bogeying 18, his first dropped shot of the day. He’s back at -3.
Some good news finally for Paul Casey: a birde at 17 that arrests his precipitous decline this morning. He’s back up to -3, which to be fair is only four off the lead he once shared today. Meanwhile Adam Scott flays a wild drive into the fescue down the right of 1. That’s nestled into severe filth, he’ll not even attempt to hack that out. He’s taking an unplayable. He drops, chips out, and faces a long up and down if he wants to save his par.
So much for Schauffele going about his business quietly. He makes birdie at 5 by holing a 17-footer, and he joins Fowler in the lead at -7. The 23-year-old Californian, making his major championship debut, has yet to drop a shot in this US Open!
-7: Schauffele (5), Fowler
-6: Kim (10*)
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Yet another birdie for Si Woo Kim! The Players champion is putting it all together right now. This one, at 1, is his third in a row. He’s -6, in a share of second with Xander Schauffele, who has been shuffling along quietly, playing par golf across the first four holes.
-7: Fowler
-6: Kim (10*), Schauffele (4)
-5: Harman, Fleetwood, Koepka
The 18th hole is playing at 676 yards today. Sergio Garcia has made it to the green in two. He rolls his long eagle putt up to the hole from 40 feet, then taps in for his second birdie of the day. Another one that makes golf look very, very simple. If you factor out the 676-yard bit. The Masters champion is -3, with the wind at his back. Birdies for Bubba and Scott, too, the latter perhaps more relevant, as it brings the big Aussie back to level par. (Bubba’s +3, for the record.)
Paul Casey wasn’t able to clear his head quickly enough. He followed that triple-bogey eight with a loose drive down the right of 15. Always chasing, he ended up with another bogey. Par at 16 has steadied the ship a little, but that’s him floundering at -2 now. Passing in the other direction: Bill Haas, who cards his third birdie of the day, at 7, to move to -3.
Si Woo Kim, by comparison, keeps on keepin’ on. Another birdie at 18, and he’s played the back nine in 34 strokes. That moves him up to -5 and a tie for third. Behind him on the course, Russell Henley, who birdies 17 to rise to -4. At three under for his round, he’s the hottest man right now on a course baring a few more of its chompers today.
-7: Fowler
-6: Schauffele (3)
-5: Kim (9*), Harman, Fleetwood, Koepka
-4: Henley (8*), Wiesberger (4), Reed
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Kevin Na is not alone. Here’s another example of how quickly a promising US Open challenge can run into serious bother. Paul Casey joined Rickie Fowler in the lead an hour ago with birdie at 11; now, having already bogeyed 12, he’s tripled the par-five 14th after finding trouble down the right of the fairway, then at the back of the green. He crashes down the leader board to -3. His bid is by no means scuppered - these things happen in the USGA’s premier competition - but he’ll need to regroup quickly and put that one out of mind.
A fine front nine for Daniel Summerhays. The 33-year-old from Utah is quietly becoming a fixture at the majors, having tied for eighth at Oakmont last year as an alternate. He finished third at the PGA, and now he’s putting together another major bid: out in 33 this morning with birdies at 2, 6 and 9. Shame about yesterday’s bog-average 73, but he’s -2 overall now and a strong back nine would set him up nicely for the weekend.
Here’s an interesting stat. As things stand - and of course there’s an awfully long way to go today - the 36-hole cut will fall at +1. That would equal the lowest all-time US Open record, set at Medinah in 1990. After that, you’d be looking at Olympia Fields in 2003 (+3), Baltusrol in 1993 (+4), and Bethpage Black in 2009 (+4).
Si Woo Kim is made of the right stuff, as his masterful closing out of this year’s Players Championship proved. The 21-year-old South Korean is surely a multiple major winner in waiting, and doesn’t seem the sort to waste time. After bogey at 12 today, he’s since birdied 14 and now 17, and sits very nicely at -4 overall. He’s the youngest-ever winner of the Players, though such a record for the US Open is beyond him; the first-ever US-born player to win the event, John McDermott, was only 19 when he lifted the trophy in 1911.
Birdie for Sergio at 15, and it’s as simple as they come. Big drive down the middle, crisp wedge to 18 inches, tap in. Golf’s an easy game, huh? Eh? Meanwhile William McGirt, who has been in the mix at the last two majors, is looking to make it three in a row: he’s in credit today, after birdies at 4 and now 7, offset slightly by bogey at 6. He’s -3 overall. And finally a little good news for rusty Rory McIlroy, who caresses a lovely tee shot to 13 feet at 13, and makes a putt for once. He’s back to +6, but still in desperate need of some tournament practice. Five weeks until Birkdale; plenty of time.
Beef birdies 16 by clapping his tee shot at the 179-yard par-three 16th to seven feet! That’s him back to level par for his round, and -3 overall. But it’s another dropped shot for Marc Leishman, this time at 15, and yesterday seems an awfully long time ago. He’s back down at -2. And Kevin Na continues to fall backwards at some velocity: a bogey at 6, and he’s five over for his round already. He’s +1, and there’s how quickly a US Open bid can fall apart. He won’t be the last to suffer this fate this weekend.
A good look at birdie for Justin Rose at 12, but he can’t make the ten-footer that’d take him to -2. He looks frustrated, but not half as annoyed as Rory McIlroy, whose campaign descends into total irrelevance with a three-putt bogey. He’s +7, now worse off than the third member of this marquee group, Jason Day, who rattles in a long birdie putt, his ball rolling a full 360 degrees around the rim before dropping. He’s +6.
The minute Paul Casey reaches the top, he falls off. Bogey at 12 and he’s back to -6. Rickie Fowler, currently either asleep or in the bath, is the sole leader again. Xander Schauffele is out, and he’s parred the par-five 1st. Bernd Wiesberger birdies 2 to move to -4. And Matt Fitzpatrick continues to move in the right direction after that double on 7 yesterday evening. He closed with fine birdie putts at 8 and 9 last night, and now he’s followed up with a birdie at 2 this morning. He’s -3 overall.
A wee shame on the 603-yard par-five 14th fairway, as Bubba momentarily considers hitting driver off the deck. He’s got to carry 275 yards if he wants to reach the green, hitting into the wind, blind. It’s not beyond the realms for him by any means, but he’s talked out of it by his caddy. Bah. Sensible Bubba is not the best Bubba.
An eventful morning so far for Eddie Pepperell. The 26-year-old Englishman, making his first start in a major since the 2015 PGA, has played eight holes so far today, parring just two of them. But after a bogey-birdie-bogey start, he’s picked up strokes at 13, 14 and 17. He’s two over for the round so far, and -2 overall after his 72 yesterday. Adam Scott meanwhile bogeys 13 to drop to +1; one of the pre-tournament favourites just can’t maintain any momentum.
Paul Casey hits the top of the leader board! Having opened with par at 10, he birdies 11 to move to -7 alongside Rickie Fowler! Some other early moves: Bill Haas birdies 1 and 2 to rise to -2; Harris English picks up a shot at 12 to move to -2 as well; and Marc Leishman bogeys 13 to drop to -3.
-7: Casey (2*), Fowler
-6: Schauffele
A fine start for the 2013 champion Justin Rose! He inexplicably three-putted 18 from no distance whatsoever last night, his evening meal turned sour. But he’s made up for that egregious display by draining a 25-footer on his opening hole today, 10, to rise to -1. Jason Day also birdies; he tripled this hole during his first round 79; 24 hours aren’t just a long time in politics. See also Kevin Na, whose nightmare start continues apace. He’s just doubled 4, and plummets to level par overall.
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Since You’re Here dept.
Bubba is a couple of inches away from slam-dunking his approach into the cup at 11. Instead he’ll have a six footer for birdie. But before he can take a look, Scott has to manufacture a stunning putt from just off the green to the left. It travels 50 feet or so, though most of that is a huge, sweeping left-to-right u-turn. Perfectly judged, it leaves him a tap-in for par. He remains at level. Sergio charges a straight 20-foot birdie effort ten feet past, and can’t make the return; he drops to -1. And finally Bubba misreads his birdie effort and has to settle for par. He’s still +3 and with a face on.
It’s back-to-back bogeys for Kevin Na, the latest at 3. He drops to -2, a lot of yesterday’s good work already undone. His playing partner Keegan Bradley also drops a stroke at the hole; he’s -1 too. The Players champion Si Woo Kim bogeys 12 to drop to -2; ditto Beef. But it’s three birdies in the first four holes now for Satoshi Kodaira; he’s up to -2.
Russell Henley could be a dark horse. He won the Shell Houston Open back in April, then ended the Masters in a tie for 11th. And here he is following up yesterday’s 71 with a birdie-birdie start at 10 and 11. He’s -3 overall and tied for tenth spot. He’s never finished in the top ten at a major, so these are heady heights for the 28-year-old South Carolinian.
Pars all round for Bubba, Scott and Sergio at 10. A mixed bag: Scott had powered onto the green impressively from the first cut, Bubba rolled his approach to 12 feet for a birdie chance, and Sergio charged his second through the green into thick greenside nonsense. But Bubba and Scott’s first putts weren’t all that, while Sergio’s chip led to a fine scramble. Hey, they’ll take a steady start every day at the US Open.
Satoshi Kodaira has done nothing in the majors to date. The 27-year-old Japanese has missed the cut a couple of times at the Open, and that’s it. But he’s enjoying his US Open debut after a slow start. He was +3 through his first four holes yesterday, but fought back for a 73. Today he’s opened with birdies at 1 and 2, and he’s -1 overall. Quick starts also for Corey Conners of Canada and Pat Perez of the USA: they’ve both picked up a couple of shots already today, through 5 and 2 holes respectively. Both are down at +2, so not especially relevant, but it’s further illustration that shots are out there.
A fast start this morning for the aforementioned Keegan Bradley. The 2011 PGA champ shot 72 yesterday, but has birdied 1 and 2 to launch himself up the leader board to -2. His playing partner Kevin Na is however heading the other way. Having made 68 yesterday, he’s just slipped out of the top ten with a bogey at 2 to drop back to -3.
Here we go, then! One of the morning’s marquee groups is out: Bubba Watson, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia. Masters champions all. Bubba didn’t enjoy himself very much yesterday, shooting 75, but he starts out at 10 by splitting the fairway. Scott, who battled back to level par from +4, toys with the fescue down the left, but should be OK. And finally Sergio, who ground out a decent 70 without playing particularly well. He sends one down the middle too.
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Preamble
Only four players have ever won on their major championship debut. Willie Park Sr was the first, though he probably shouldn’t count; nothing came before the 1860 Open, after all. Francis Ouimet was next to hit the ground running, the amateur and his ten-year-old caddy Eddie Lowrey making off with the 1913 US Open in innocent style. A full 90 years later, Ben Curtis came from out of nowhere to lift the auld Claret Jug at Sandwich. And fourth up, Keegan Bradley announced himself and shocked the world by winning the 2011 PGA.
This doesn’t happen often. Xander Schauffele, then, eh?
Well, we’re only 18 holes into a 72-hole tournament, of course. A long way to go, and the odds are firmly against. Then again, when you shoot a bogey-free 66 in your first round as a major-championship contestant, while the likes of Jason Day and Rory McIlroy flail around in the high 70s, you have to be taken seriously. The 23-year-old Californian was a hot college prospect and looks like turning potential into something more solid on tour: he’s already got fifth- and 11th-placed finishes to his name this season. And now this. It’ll be fascinating to see if he can build on that today. There’s no pressure, because nobody realistically expects anything. But a leftfield sensation would be something to witness, huh? He’s out early today; God speed, young Xander.
Also starting early: Paul Casey, who shot a wonderful 66 yesterday; Beef, increasingly looking the real deal after a 69; the Players champion Si Woo Kim, also at -3; Marc Leishman, hovering again in the majors following his 68; the Masters champ Sergio, who carded a solid 70 yesterday; and Adam Hadwin, who yesterday equalled the US Open record for consecutive birdies. (Six, since you’re asking, and it was nearly seven, a 100-yard rake up the 6th just failing to drop.)
Then later on, another man who equalled a tournament record: the leader Rickie Fowler, whose seven-under 65 matched the best first-round scores to par, 63s made by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf at Baltusrol in 1980. Fowler’s got to win a major soon. Why not here? It’s most certainly on if he enjoys a good afternoon today.
We’ll round up the super-early action when this blog gets going at 2pm BST (8am for you all in Wisconsin). Until then, here’s how the leader board looks ...
-7: Fowler
-6: Casey, Schauffele
-5: Harman, Fleetwood, Koepka
-4: Na, Leishman, Hadwin, Reed
-3: Beef, Kim, Scheffler -a-, Wiesberger, Lovemark, Westwood, Holmes
... and here are today’s tee times (local, then BST). Until then!
1st tee, morning wave:
6.45 am (12.45pm): Wade Ormsby; Oliver Bekker; Kyle Thompson
6.56 am (12.56pm): Brandon Stone; Troy Merritt; Chris Wood
7.07 am (1.07pm): Satoshi Kodaira; Daniel Summerhays; Alexander Levy
7.18 am (1.18pm): William McGirt; Keegan Bradley; Kevin Na
7.29 am (1.29pm): Brad Dalke (a); Wesley Bryan; Brendan Steele
7.40 am (1.40pm): Nick Flanagan; Richie Ramsay; Bryson DeChambeau
7.51 am (1.51pm): Daniel Berger; Roberto Castro; Bill Haas
8.02 am (2.02pm): Adam Hadwin; Emiliano Grillo; Cheng-Tsung Pan
8.13 am (2.13pm): Scott Piercy; Shane Lowry; Jim Furyk
8.24 am (2.24pm): Matthew Fitzpatrick; Peter Uihlein; Byeong Hun An
8.35 am (2.35pm): Kevin Chappell; Maverick McNealy (a); Bernd Wiesberger
8.46 am (2.46pm): Xander Schauffele; Trey Mullinax; Cameron Champ (a)
8.57 am (2.57pm): Sam Ryder; Alex Smalley (a); Andy Pope
10th tee, morning wave:
6.45 am (12.45pm): Jack Maguire; Corey Conners; Ben Kohles
6.56 am (12.56pm): Eddie Pepperell; Chan Kim; Gregory Bourdy
7.07 am (1.07pm): Jhonattan Vegas; Yuta Ikeda; Sean O’Hair
7.18 am (1.18pm): Andrew Johnston; Brian Stuard; George Coetzee
7.29 am (1.29pm): Marc Leishman; Pat Perez; Si Woo Kim
7.40 am (1.40pm): Russell Henley; Scottie Scheffler (a); Harris English
7.51 am (1.51pm): Bubba Watson; Adam Scott; Sergio Garcia
8.02 am (2.02pm): Henrik Stenson; Charl Schwartzel; Louis Oosthuizen
8.13 am (2.13pm): Jimmy Walker; Justin Thomas; Paul Casey
8.24 am (2.24pm): Jason Day; Justin Rose; Rory McIlroy
8.35 am (2.35pm): Steve Stricker; Stewart Cink; Phil Mickelson
8.46 am (2.46pm): Ryan Brehm; John Oda (a); Jonathan Randolph
8.57 am (2.57pm): Mason Andersen (a); Derek Barron; Roman Robledo
1st tee, afternoon wave:
12.30 pm (6.30pm): Meen Whee Kim; Ted Potter Jr.; Daniel Chopra
12.41 pm (6.41pm): Shugo Imahira; Ryan Palmer; Matthew Wallace
12.52 pm (6.52pm): Charley Hoffman; Jason Dufner; Hideto Tanihara
1.03 pm (7.03pm): Jeunghun Wang; Thomas Aiken; Bradley Dredge
1.14 pm (7.14pm): Scott Harvey (a); Jamie Lovemark; Michael Putnam
1.25 pm (7.25pm): Brian Harman; Tommy Fleetwood; Bud Cauley
1.36 pm (7.36pm): Hideki Matsuyama; Rickie Fowler; Jon Rahm
1.47 pm (7.47pm): Lee Westwood; Ross Fisher; Graeme McDowell
1.58 pm (7.58pm): Danny Willett; Zach Johnson; Angel Cabrera
2.09 pm (8.09pm): Matt Kuchar; Francesco Molinari; Patrick Reed
2.20 pm (8.20pm): Martin Kaymer; Jordan Spieth; Dustin Johnson
2.31 pm (8.31pm): Joaquin Niemann (a); Stephan Jaeger; Joel Stalter
2.42 pm (8.42pm): Daniel Miernicki; Sahith Theegala (a); Tyler Light
10th tee, afternoon wave:
12.30 pm (6.30pm): Jordan Niebrugge; Talor Gooch; Kevin Dougherty
12.41 pm (6.41pm): Andres Romero; Brice Garnett; Davis Love IV
12.52 pm (6.52pm): Yusaku Miyazato; J.T. Poston; Aaron Rai
1.03 pm (7.03pm): David Lingmerth; Paul Dunne; Haotong Li
1.14 pm (7.14pm): Stewart Hagestad (a); Chez Reavie; Gene Sauers
1.25 pm (7.25pm): Brandt Snedeker; Alex Noren; Tyrrell Hatton
1.36 pm (7.36pm): Rafa Cabrera Bello; Thomas Pieters; Brooks Koepka
1.47 pm (7.47pm): Gary Woodland; J.B. Holmes; Jason Kokrak
1.58 pm (7.58pm): Russell Knox; Scott Gregory (a); Martin Laird
2.09 pm (8.09pm): Kevin Kisner; Billy Horschel; Branden Grace
2.20 pm (8.20pm): Webb Simpson; Ernie Els; Lucas Glover
2.31 pm (8.31pm): Tyson Alexander; Christopher Crawford (a); Max Greyserman
2.42 pm (8.42pm): Matthew Campbell; Garrett Osborn; Walker Lee (a)
