If I were the USGA tonight, I would be very happy with how the 119th US Open is shaping up at Pebble Beach. The course is starting to respond to how they wanted it to play, and that is demanding. This is when good old fashioned US Open course conditions is showing the players what they are in for this weekend.
Let’s start with the two Southern California guys that sat at the top of the leaderboard after Day 1, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele. It hurt me to look up Rickie’s score today because I really want him to win a major this year. It’s just as painful to write this. Rickie shot a 6-over 77 and sits at 1-over for the tournament. Ten shots off the lead.
San Diego State’s Xander Schauffele struggled like Rickie today, but didn't do as much damage to his chances. He ended the day in a tie for 11th after shooting 73 in Round 2.
The round of the day goes to a guy that has been knocking on the door for years, bomber Gary Woodland. Woodland has had close calls over the years but has yet to break through. On a day when scoring was not as easy as Day1, Woodland tied the course record with a 6-under 65 and will go to bed with the outright lead. When you can putt like this, you can win any tournament in the world, at any time.
ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!Gary Woodland caps an unreal 6-under 65 round with a 50-foot birdie.He leads by 2. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/QM466SGMF9
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2019Putts like this are what people remember when someone goes on to win. You need luck, and you need these putts to drop to win a US Open.
Gary Woodland simply refuses to bogey. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/2ynID5Gtho
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2019Round 1 leader Justin Rose shot a course tying 65 yesterday, but was only able to shoot a 1-under 70 on Day 2. I say only able to shoot 1-under like I could do it, but for Rose it was a day that I think he thought he could do better. What was the difference between Day 2 and Day 1? Justin Rose just didn’t have the same magic today. Putts that went in yesterday burned the edges today. Bounces in the fairway took him to the rough instead of getting a good lie. One under is really good, but in order to win his second US Open, he needed to take advantage of his hot start. At one point he lead by three!
Justin Rose is running away!He shoots 34 on his first 9 and leads by 3. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/fLv75sIBhE
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 2019Tiger Woods was also a big draw to watch the morning groups, and he was steady but again couldn’t score when he needed to. He shot a 1-over 72 and started strong with a birdie on the second hole of his round, but just like the first round he didn’t do much of anything but par. Pars are great, but out of 36 holes, Tiger Woods has par’d 29 of them. That’s not going to move you up or down the leaderboard and it’s not going to get him anywhere near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday. But who knows! Tiger may be playing us all and he is just waiting to pounce over the weekend.
How’s Phil doing in his quest for the career grand slam? Much better than yesterday, but he still has a long way to go after a 2-under 69 in Round 2. Phil is loved by so many, even a seagull tried to eat his golf ball!
Phil Mickelson has made 4 birdies and 1 seagull. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/5gIJ1e1aE4
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 2019Defending champion Brooks Koepka shot a second straight 2-under 69 to put himself at 4-under. He isn’t out of it by any means but he is on the bubble. If he can make some noise on moving day, the golf world will be glued to their TV on Sunday.
There was much more that happened today and you can check it out by clicking here and visiting the full leaderboard.
To end the Round 2 recap you get to see a good old fashioned broken club meltdown by Patrick Reed.
Patrick Reed with a frustrating end to his round. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/L6I3wsHw77
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2019
