Windham Clark Surges Ahead in the US Open
Windham Clark has established a solid four-shot lead midway through the US Open, as Rory McIlroy faltered during a dramatic second round at Shinnecock Hills.
Returning early Friday morning following a fog-delayed opening day, Clark finished the first round with a score of 1-under 69, buoyed by three birdies and two bogeys. His stellar performance included a long-range birdie on the final hole, bringing his total to 7 under, the lowest score recorded at this major venue after 36 holes. Clark now sits atop a leaderboard featuring several prominent past major champions.
Xander Schauffele has climbed into a tie for second place alongside 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and American Sam Stevens. Collin Morikawa distinguished himself with a 5-under 65 under challenging conditions, closing in at just one stroke behind the leaders.
Initially, McIlroy appeared to be a strong contender, entering the turn at 33 strokes, just four behind Clark. However, he struggled on the back nine, finishing with a 1-over 71 after mixing two birdies with three bogeys and a double bogey.
McIlroy’s Mixed Performance in Challenging Conditions
After starting his second round with a save from 10 feet on the first hole, McIlroy gained momentum with a powerful 393-yard drive followed by a two-putt birdie on the par-5 fifth. His round included a notable 15-foot birdie on the eighth hole, but a missed six-foot putt on the next par-5 dashed his chances of closing the gap on Clark.
During the back nine, McIlroy faced a series of challenges, recording bogeys on the first three holes and a double bogey on the par-4 15th, which dropped him back to level par. His attempts to bounce back included tapping in for birdie on the 13th and sinking a 40-footer on the next hole, but inconsistent approach shots led to a disappointing round of 38 on the back nine.
After struggling with transitioning into the wind, McIlroy expressed that his efforts were commendable but ultimately not adequate. “Even-par isn’t bad heading into the weekend,” he remarked. He aims to continue refining his game in the upcoming rounds.
Schauffele and Fitzpatrick Close in on Clark
Clark began the second round with a two-stroke lead over Dustin Johnson and expanded this marginally with a commanding five-shot lead at one point. His remarkable consistency, achieving consecutive rounds in the 60s since his 2023 US Open victory, sets a new standard for his performance.
Schauffele, aiming to maintain his impressive record of never finishing outside the top 15 at a US Open, shot a solid 4-under 66 to tie with Fitzpatrick, who converted birdies on two of his final three holes. Alongside Stevens and Kim, who finished with scores of 69 and 67 respectively, they all look to mount a challenge against Clark.
Only ten players currently sit under par, with notable improvements from Justin Thomas, Sam Barnes, Sahith Theegala, and Harry Higgs, all advancing to 1 under. Scottie Scheffler posted a commendable 2-under 68 with only one bogey.
Last month’s PGA Championship winner Aaron Rye continues to compete, joined by compatriots Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood at 1 over. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau’s struggle continues as he exited early once again, marking his third consecutive failure to qualify for a major.
Jon Rahm, initially playing bogey-free through his first 21 holes, unexpectedly dropped six shots in five holes, finishing with an 8-over 78, and subsequently missed the cut. Several other notable competitors, including Viktor Hovland and Patrick Reed, also fell short of reaching the weekend’s rounds.
Fans can catch the action live throughout the week on Sky Sports, with coverage continuing on their golf channel.
