DeChambeau stays solid as Winged Foot awakens
AFTER lulling many in the field into a false sense of security after a surprisingly untaxing opening round, Winged Foot kicked back with some ferocity on day two of the 120th US Open.
As the wind rose, so did the numbers scribbled onto the scorecards. In contrast to Thursday when 23 players managed to break par, only two had posted scores in the 60s by the time a tumultuous second day approached its closing stages.
It was a day for hanging in there and Bryson DeChambeau managed it better than most. The bighitting American followed an opening day 69 by going one better on day two to finish three- under par after his opening two rounds.
An eagle putt on his final hole – the par- five 9th ninth – bolstered his cause and allowed him to enjoy his postround protein shake with an additional sense of satisfaction as he watched his peers struggle with the conditions.
“I felt a lot of things were working well for me,” he revealed. “I was driving it well. My iron play was impeccable. When I got into trouble, I wasn’t always able to get out of it as well as yesterday. But when I was on the fairway I was able to attack and take advantage and finished really well today.”
And his philosophy for the weekend? “Bomb it and gouge,” he said, to the sound of the game’s founding fathers turning in their graves at the very notion.
DeChambeau’s methodical approach to the game does not unfold in a hurry, and that protracted playing style combined with his brute strength off the tee make the world No. 9 a very capable golfer if not one universally admired.
The same could be said for Patrick Reed, a pantomime villain deprived this week of an audience. Starting the day in second spot, the 2018 Masters champion was able to scramble his way to respectability despite some shaky moments to remain in contention heading into the weekend.
The same could not be said for Rory McIlroy who endured a wretched day. Starting from a promising position just two off the lead, the Northern Irishman’s form seemed to turn with the weather.
His front nine included four bogeys and a double bogey, making it little surprise that he began to slide so far down the leaderboard there was a danger he might just drop off it altogether.
The new- father bounce that had been credited for his recent good form following the birth of his daughter gave way to the sort of nightmarish round that suggested the 2011 US Open champion had been up all night changing nappies.
There were at least a few other Europeans flying the flag towards the top of the leaderboard. The Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello was even the clubhouse leader for a brief spell following a solid round of 70 that sees him sitting on two- under heading into the weekend, ready for a charge.
“It’s a tournament I do like,” he said. “I tend to be a grinder, as well. I never give up. I’m managing well this week. I putted beautifully so I’m very happy with my performance so far.”
The Belgian Thomas Pieters was just a further two shots back on level par after following his opening round of 66 with a 74.
“I think I only hit one fairway on the back nine and it’s definitely twice as tough as yesterday with the wind,” he said. “I got myself out of position on every hole on the back nine but I’m not unhappy.”
Colin Montgomerie famously came close but not quite close enough the last time the US Open was held around these parts in 2006, but there will likely be no Scots troubling the top of the leaderboard come the last knockings this time around.
Connor Syme was the first of the Caledonian trio to bow out, posting a second round of 75 to finish on 10- over for his week’s work that included, remarkably, a stretch of 15 pars in succession over both rounds.
It was looking slightly more favourable for his compatriots, with Sandy Scott and Robert McIntyre hovering just inside the projected cut line as they moved towards their back nine.
I felt a lot of things were working well for me today