Johnson in control, Woods falters
Southampton ( New York), June 16: Dustin Johnson took command of the US Open on Friday, firing a three- under- par 67 at Shinnecock Hills for a four- shot lead as the only player under par after 36 punishing holes.
Shinnecock presented a different face as Thursday’s gusting wind gave way to morning mist with stretches of winddriven rain, followed by afternoon sunshine.
Johnson was more than equal to all of it, his tworound total of four- under 136 putting him four ahead of Americans Charley Hoffman and Scott Piercy.
After two birdies in his first nine holes, Johnson made his only bogey of the day at the first, unable to get up and down for par from a greenside bunker.
But he would add two more birdies, including a 45- foot putt at the par- three seventh that took its time getting to the hole then teetered in to a massive roar from the crowd.
“That was a good one,” said Johnson, the 2016 US Open winner who watched it all the way.
Piercy, who shared the overnight lead with Johnson, England’s Ian Poulter and Russell Henley, carded a one- over 71 for his share of second.
SHARMA MISSES CUT Shubhankar Sharma faltered at the very last step of the second round to miss the cut. Sharma finished bogey- double bogey in his last two holes to end the second round at sixover 76 and a 36- hole total of 10- over 150 to miss the cut, which fell at 8- over 148.
Among those who failed to qualify were Jason Day ( 79- 73), Jordan Spieth ( 7871), Lucas Glover ( 77- 72), Graeme McDowell ( 79- 70), Tiger Woods and Charl Schwartzel.