Four sharing lead at 7 under at Open
had 70.
Right behind was a trio of players that included Rickie Fowler, who went 28 holes before making his first bogey and then went three holes without making a par. Fowler shot a 73 and was still very much in the hunt at a second major in a row.
The four-way tie was the most after two rounds in a U.S. Open since Winged Foot in 1974, when the names were more familiar for a major — Raymond Floyd, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Hale Irwin, who went on to win his first major.
The previous six majors have been won by first-timers, and that cycle has a good chance to continue. The top 18 players on the leader board going into the weekend have combined for zero majors. Only a halfdozen of them have even experienced Sunday contention in golf’s biggest events.
“Tomorrow will be a very cool experience,” Fleetwood said. “It’s still Saturday — 36 holes is a very long time in a U.S. Open. Anything can happen.”
Just about everything already has at Erin Hills.
A commercial blimp crashed to the ground and caught fire just outside the course Thursday, about the time the county health department was analyzing samples that confirmed evidence of the E. coli bacteria in water at a hydration station near the 12th hole. The USGA is providing complimentary bottled water the rest of the week. There have been no reports yet of anyone getting sick.
And then Friday, a 94year-old man at the tournament for the first time stopped breathing while in a grandstand on the sixth hole and died of what Washington County officials said appeared to be natural causes.
Next up is a weekend without most of the biggest names in golf. The cut for the top 60 and ties was at 1over 145, tying a U.S. Open record set in 1990 at Medinah.
Fowler has the best chance, even though he lost so much ground over the final two hours. He went from pouring putts into the center of the cup to burning the edges, and his 39 on the back nine cost him the lead, though not his chances of breaking through for that first major.
“We’re in a good spot,” Fowler said. “Looking forward to the next two days.”
Casey discovered how little it takes to make a big number in the U.S. Open — and at this U.S. Open, how a recovery is never too far away.
Casey laid up in the rough, took two chops to get out of more rough behind the 14th green, and staggered away with a triple-bogey-8 that might have ruined his day at Erin Hills. Moments later, he began a run of five consecutive birdies that put him right where he wanted to be going into the weekend.
“Not every day you enjoy a round of golf with an 8 on the card, but I’m a pretty happy man,” Casey said. “Yeah, it was a bit of a roller-coaster. I guess it’s rare you get through a U.S. Open or any major without some kind of a hiccup.”
There is something about new U.S. Open venues that brings out the best in Jamie Lovemark.
Two years ago, Lovemark tied for 18th at Chambers Bay in the Open debut for the Washington state course.
He’s in contention again going into this weekend at another new Open course, Erin Hills. Lovemark shot his second 3-under 69 in a row Friday to pull within a shot of the lead.
Not bad for someone who had to claim one of the 14 qualifying spots at the tough Columbus, Ohio, sectional last week to make it to Wisconsin.
“Yeah, it’s a good spot to be in,” he said. “And I’m sure it will be rough this weekend. The course will probably be longer. Maybe a reachable par 4, should be firmer and faster, barring any rain.”