Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen are co-leaders at -5 and there are 10 local golfers in the top 12
The Spaniard and the Northern Irishman remain on the lookout with -4, while Sergio García and Adri Arnaus did not make the cut
Despite the fact that players like the Spanish Jon Rahm (-4 in total) or the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (-4) keep their chances of lifting the trophy intact, this Friday’s day at the US Open left an exhibition of local golfers with ten of them ranked among the top twelve positions. In the lead are Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen, co-leaders with five shots under par in total after two disputed dates. Names like the Canadian Adam Hadwin (-2), the South African MJ Daffue (-1) or the British Matt Fitzpatrick (-2) and Callum Tarren (-1) were falling from the top positions as the Americans were inspired and, Despite the fact that they do not lose options for final victory, they would be forced to play perfect golf between Saturday and Sunday.
The second day of this US Open has been faithful to the usual: Friday is for the strongest to present their credentials to the final triumph. In this, Collin Morikawa has been a benchmark with a card of four shots under par this Friday and a golf exhibition with four birdies in his first 10 holes. Joel Dhamen, whose best major performance was a top-10 finish at the 2020 PGA Championship, was very solid with the irons and, particularly on the greens, converted most of his putts with maximum efficiency. For fans it is always a joy to see the American among the highlights to remember that his main triumph was not on a golf course but overcoming testicular cancer. Since then, Dhamen has always carried a message of support on his hat for those who are fighting his particular ‘party’ against this disease.
Rahm is still smiling
It was no accident that two of the best golfers of the day were Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm (-3 this Friday) because both shared the route playing together and, at times, it seemed that those good feelings were contagious. When finishing in the ninth, I greet and look at each other knowingly, aware that each one positively influenced the other’s game and that from tomorrow they will star in a direct battle for the title.
Rahm, who is defending the championship he won last year at the US Open, was seen playing very comfortably and with confidence and he himself noted that the weather conditions were more favorable than on Thursday. In any case, the wind or the sun remained an anecdote next to the great golf he played this Friday. The key moment was on the 14th hole, his fifth of the day, converting an eagle, the first of his US Open career, to erase the bad taste of the bogey from the previous hole. The one from Barrika is smiling and savoring every minute in Brookline (Massachusetts, USA). “The more I play it, the more it becomes one of my favorite courses. I’m enjoying this challenge, I’ve had a lot of fun in the last two hours,” he said.
The sensations are very good for the weekend and, seeing him walk through The Country Club, at times it seems that he was in Torrey Pines (California, USA), where he was proclaimed champion in 2021. “I have played as one wishes to play golf at the US Open, hopefully I can continue to do so. I’ve played the last seven holes as comfortably as possible,” he said.
The other ‘foreigner’ who challenged the Americans, the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, knew how to recompose himself after a hesitant start (-1 this Friday). “It wasn’t a great start with the double bogey on the third hole but I knew I would have more opportunities to recover. I’m in a good position going into the weekend,” he said. Five birdies, three of them in the last seven holes, allowed him to make up his card and keep alive the chances of winning his second US Open.
Special mention deserves the 26-year-old American Hayden Buckley, who entered the US Open qualifying from previous tournaments and is currently ranked 259th in the world ranking. He has completed two cards of 68 shots each day (-4 in total) to be third overall and earn the right to go out in one of the last tee times with the best on the planet, a dream come true after having tried with baseball and for someone who currently works as a clerk.
The most impressive shot of the day -and so far in the tournament- was played by Scottie Scheffler who maintains his aspirations with a card of three shots under par, showing why he is number one in the world. It was his third shot on the 14th hole, from the rough he tried an impressive approach that ended up going in and adding an eagle to the applause of those present, this shot shot him towards the candidate area.
García and Arnaus, out of the court
Sergio García (+4) and Adri Arnaus (+7) do not make the cut and say goodbye to The Country Club. The man from Alicante completed a card of 70 shots to match par for the field, but he is penalized by Thursday’s result, while the Catalan is once again left out of the weekend as happened to him in his first participation (and only one so far) in the 2019 edition. Of the rest of the Hispanic representation, the Colombian Sebastián Muñoz (+3 after two days) and the Chilean Joaquín Niemann (+1) continue in the US Open. Instead, Chilean Mito Pereira sat out the weekend at four over par after five bogeys ruined his Friday card.