“DeChambeau’s Birdie Sparks US Open Drama as Mcllory Lurks around

Bryson DeChambeau birdied his final hole to establish the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the US Open at Pinehurst. The American shot a one-under 69, bringing his overall score to four under par, one stroke ahead of Rory McIlroy, who finished with a 72 to sit at three under.

DeChambeau’s lead was briefly challenged by Thomas Detry, who recorded six birdies but stumbled with bogeys on two of his last three holes, tying DeChambeau at four under par. McIlroy, who shared the overnight lead with Patrick Cantlay at five under, showed resilience in his round despite some challenges.

Cantlay, starting later in the day, will look to improve on his position along with Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, who resumed play at four under. Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler is at risk of missing the cut for the first time since August 2022 after a rough round of 74 left him at five over par, hovering on the projected cut line.

Despite tournament organizers watering the course between rounds, the notoriously challenging Pinehurst Number Two has yet to fully unleash its difficulty on the players. This course, hosting its fourth US Open, has historically seen only four players finish under par. Tyrrell Hatton, finishing with a 71 on Friday to sit at one under, described his round as “internally screaming for the most part.”

DeChambeau, who has been a consistent contender in majors this year with a joint sixth at the Masters and a second-place finish at the US PGA Championship, displayed a mixture of skill and emotion on Friday. His round featured five birdies and four bogeys, highlighted by some impressive long putts and energetic celebrations that thrilled the large crowds.

“I’m excited for the test and challenge,” said DeChambeau, noting the hot conditions and the potential for increased wind, which could make the course even more difficult.

McIlroy’s round had its ups and downs, starting with a bogey-free opening day that tied him for the lead. Although he struggled at times, particularly with a putt that ran off the green on the 17th hole (his eighth of the day), he managed to recover with a chip-in for par and a subsequent birdie. He maintained his position near the top of the leaderboard with a determined performance.

“I did a pretty good job at keeping some of the mistakes off the scorecard,” McIlroy remarked. “I wish I had converted a couple more of the chances but I hit the ball pretty well and had plenty of opportunities. Still, I am in a great position going into the weekend.”

Scheffler, usually a model of consistency, experienced an uncharacteristically difficult round, finishing birdie-free for the first time in a major. His frustration was evident as he showed rare signs of emotion, including tossing his putter after a missed par attempt. His round was marred by a double bogey on the fifth hole after struggling to escape from sandy rough.

World number two Xander Schauffele, who recently won his first major at the US PGA, also faced difficulties, particularly in the sand at the fifth hole, which stalled his promising round and left him at one under par. He was joined by Hatton, who had climbed into the top five before a string of bogeys on the back nine slowed his progress.

Other notable performances included Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre, both hovering near the projected cut line at five and six over par, respectively. The cut will be determined as the late wave of players finish their rounds, with the top 60 and ties advancing to the weekend.

Sepp Straka’s round epitomized the unpredictability of golf at Pinehurst. After suffering a triple-bogey seven on the third hole when his ball ricocheted into a bunker, Straka rebounded with the tournament’s first hole-in-one on the par-three ninth, concluding his round with a 72 to sit at two over.

As the US Open progresses, the players brace for what is sure to be a mentally and physically taxing weekend at Pinehurst, where the battle for the championship remains wide open.