US Open 2018
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Jun 15th, 2018
118th US Open Day 2 - the wrap
As Dustin Johnson takes charge at Shinnecock Hills
Words: GolfPunk
Dustin Johnson is in charge of the US Open, as he shot a three-under-par 67 to take a four shot lead, and is now the only player to be under par at the half way mark in what has been a gruelling first two days at Shinnecock Hills.
"Dustin was in complete control of what he was doing," said Tiger Woods, who missed the cut with a two-over 72 to add to his opening 78 for a 10-over total of 150.
"He's hitting the ball so flush and so solid," Woods said. "I know it's windy. It's blustery. It was raining early. But he's hitting right through it.”
Johnson made his only bogey of the day at the first (his 10th hole), when he was unable to get up and down for par from a greenside bunker. But his round included four birdies, and he is now four shots clear of fellow Americans Scott Piercy and Charlie Hoffman.
His birdies include a 45-foot putt at the par-three seventh that took its time getting to the hole then dropped in to a massive roar from the crowd.
"That was a good one. I knew about halfway there it was on a really good line if it would just get to the hole — it dropped right in the front door”, said Johnson.
Ian Poulter was going along nicely, until he made a triple-bogey seven at the par-four eighth, his penultimate hole. He then bogeyed the ninth to card a 72, and fall back into T4 with defending champion Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, and Henrik Stenson. So Europe is very well represented, if someone can catch a rampant DJ.
The best rounds of the day went to Tommy Fleetwood and Brooks Koepka, who both shot four under rounds of 66, which bodes well for moving day.
Rory McIlroy missed the cut, and was 14-over after a double-bogey at the ninth. He then put together a run of four birdies in six holes starting at the 11th, but it was not enough, and he finished on 10-over 150.
Jordan Spieth was another high-profile casualty, as he missed the cut by a single shot. Jason Day and Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm and Martin Kaymer also joined the casualty list.
At the moment, it looks like Dustin’s to lose. But another great round from Tommy Fleetwood today could put the pressure on.
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