Rory McIlroy and defending champion Jon Rahm in the group tied for second in four under, with Collin Morikawa with a second-round 66 to share the lead with Joel Dahmen in Brookline; Watch the third day of the US Open live on Saturday from 4pm at Sky Sports Golf
Last updated: 6/18/22 10:01 AM
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Rory McIlroy was pleased with how he recovered from his third double hole bogey after being caught in the fescue for three shots.
Rory McIlroy was pleased with how he recovered from his third double hole bogey after being caught in the fescue for three shots.
Rory McIlroy said he “couldn’t be happier” after a 69 under on the second day of the U.S. Open took a four-point lead below par over the weekend at Country Brookline Club.
McIlroy overcame a great hiccup in the third hole, where he fired three shots to get out of the strong ruin to the right of the green, although once he did, he then drilled a huge 20-foot putt to limit the damage. to a double bogey. .
He birded two of his next five holes, only for a bogey on the 10th to let him return to two during the day, but a hot end saw the Northern Irishman shoot back in the 1960s and keep him firmly in the struggle for a fifth. main title.
“After 36 holes in a major championship, all you want to do is get well in the mix for the weekend,” McIlroy told reporters.
“For a little bit of the day there, it looked like I was going to be a little further back, but I dug deep and played the last eight holes very, very well.
“That was the goal. After making a bogey 10, I just wanted to try to shoot below par. I had a few chances.
“I just played eight very clean holes, which was nice. He hit fairways, he hit greens, I gave myself chances and I went back to the tournament.
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“I was trying to get into the final group and then they told me to write down that the final group will leave tomorrow at 15:45. It’s like, maybe I don’t want to be in the final group! It seems too late.
“I was trying to birdie on the 18th to try to get five below, but I’m very happy with my position.
“I played a good round of golf yesterday. I came back well today after a hard start, and yes, right in the mix. I couldn’t be happier.”
Will Morikawa’s story be repeated at the US Open?
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Collin Morikawa, a two-time senior champion, says he is excited for the weekend after about four incredible under-66s to co-lead over the weekend as he seeks to win his third major in three years.
Collin Morikawa, a two-time senior champion, says he is excited for the weekend after about four incredible under-66s to co-lead over the weekend as he seeks to win his third major in three years.
McIlroy is one point behind team leaders Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen with five less, and Morikawa hopes history will repeat itself and be able to follow successive rounds in the 1960s with a third major victory at the U.S. Open.
When asked if he believed in destiny after his previous two victories, at the PGA Championship in 2020 and the Open last year, he arrived in these circumstances, Morikawa joked: “It’s such a terrible statistic.
“I mean, I’ve played 11 majors, so it’s not a big enough statistic to get anything out of it, but I’d love to do it three by three.
“No one has gone that far and escaped, but you know what, right now my game is going great.
“The last few days have been a great boost of confidence for me ahead of this weekend, and I hope we can break up in some way.”
Rahm enjoying the challenge against the best in golf
U.S. Open defending champion Jon Rahm is also in Group 1 of Morikawa and Dahmen with four fewer and said he likes the chance to face the top names in golf during the week, including world number 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is vying for three. under.
“Oh, it’s great,” Rahm said after the round. “I think it is a testament to the health and condition of this game.
“It’s pretty amazing to see Rory come back, it’s not like he’s never gone anywhere, but playing for weeks on end and playing at the level he can.
“Obviously, Scottie doing what he’s been doing all year, Collin doing what he always does, myself doing what I’m trying to do.
“It’s fun for everyone because we all want to compete against the best and beat the best, and it’s obviously a lot more fun to see people.
“I think it’s great for the game of golf that the top players and the best players are up there, especially in the tournament where really the best player ends up winning.”
Watch the 122nd US Open all week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Saturday from 4pm on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event.