US Open 2023 leaderboard: Latest updates as Rickie Fowler leads by one after Rory McIlroy surge

A resurgent Rickie Fowler will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the US Open after a pulsating round in which he made eight birdies. Fowler held the overnight lead with Xander Schauffele at eight under but will begin the weekend on -10 after a birdie-laden round at Los Angeles Country Club.

The American leads Wyndham Clark by one shot, who took advantage of generous fairways and soft morning conditions to reach nine under, while Rory McIlroy overcame a sluggish start to card a 67 which leaves him two back alongside Schauffele, who finished well to shoot a 70 in the tougher afternoon conditions.

Harris English sits alone at -7 with Min Woo Lee and two-time major champion Dustin Johnson lurking at six under par. World number one Scottie Scheffler battled well to finish on five under par alongside Sam Bennett.

Early on Friday, Matt Fitzpatrick enjoyed a memorable moment as he recorded the third hole-in-one of the week. The defending champion sits at +1 for the tournament and 11 shots off the lead.

Follow all the action from the 123rd US Open:

US Open 2023

• Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele look to stay on top after historic opening round in LA

• Schauffele joined Fowler in the record books with his bogey-free round of 62 on Thursday

• Fowler leads by one on -10 after pulsating round of 68

• Rory McIlroy in contention at -8 after superb second round

• Leaderboard: -10: Fowler; -9: Clark; -8: McIlroy, Schauffele; -7: English; -6: Johnson, MW Lee; -5: Bennett, Scheffler

Goodbye for now

03:45 , Ben Fleming

As the sun sets in LA, another day of major championship golf draws to a close and what a day it was.

That round from Rickie Fowler will live long in the memory and the task for the resurgent fan-favourite will be to keep it going into the weekend. He eyes his first major championship, as does Clark and Schauffele in the chasing pack.

But what about McIlroy, Johnson and even Scheffler? So many contenders and it could get very interesting as this course gets tougher over the weekend.

Thanks for tuning in to all our coverage today! Until tomorrow...

Leaderboard

03:40 , Ben Fleming

So this is how the top ten stacks out heading into the weekend:

-10: Fowler

-9: Clark

-8: McIlroy, Schauffele

-7: English

-6: Johnson, MW Lee

-5: Scheffler, Bennett

-4: Smith

Birdie finish for Schauffele

03:34 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -8 (70), Rahm +1 (72), Hovland -1 (70)

Hovland up first and it’s a marvellous up and down. He somehow creates an angle out of the bunker before ramming home his par putt. An even-par round of 70 from the Norweigian who sits nine shots back.

Schauffele is next and his birdie effort looks in from the moment it leaves the putter blade. A birdie-birdie finish to remain at even par for the day and just two shots of Fowler.

Rahm’s par putt just misses on the right side and it’s a finishing bogey for the Masters champion who makes the cut on the number after a two-over par round of 72.

Rahm in the thick rough

03:26 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -7 (17), Rahm +1 (17), Hovland -1 (17)

Another break that Rahm will no doubt be over the moon with as his ball nestles down in the bermuda rough. He can only hack out and will have a wedge in to save his par.

Hovland hacks his into the bunker and he’ll have a very awkward stance to save his par too. Schauffele once more seizes the initiative, though, with a divine iron into the green. A great opportunity to get within two shots of Fowler with his final putt.

Rahm enraged on 17 as Schauffele makes birdie

03:18 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -7 (17), Rahm +1 (17), Hovland -1 (17)

Someone needs to get Jon Rahm a stiff drink ready for when he is finished today - it’s not gone the Spaniard’s way this afternoon and he yells an expletive that no doubt reverberated around the hills of Beverly as his bunker shot flies past the hole

He can’t save his par and needs to ensure he doesn’t do anything silly on the last to miss the cut.

Hovland also makes a bogey after getting in trouble off the tee but the hole belongs to Schauffele who hits a beauty of an iron into four feet and makes a birdie to get back to seven under par.

Max Homa misses the cut

03:14 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -5 (68), Homa +4 (76), Morikawa E (69)

A really disappointing round comes to an end for Max Homa - a six-over-par 76 to miss the cut in his home state. It still hasn’t come together for him on the biggest stage.

Scheffler and Morikawa, however, will be here into the weekend. Scheffler continued to grind and is well-positioned at five under and that score is well in it if these conditions keep getting tougher. Morikawa finished with a flurry but will need to go low to trouble those at the top come Sunday evening.

Rickie Fowler signs off, leads by one

03:07 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -10 (68), Day +9 (78), Rose +4 (68)

Will Rickie have a look at birdie on the last...of course he will. Simply relentless shotmaking from the American. The putt doesn’t drop but he taps in for par and a two-under-par 68.

Just four pars, six bogeys but a gargantuan eight birdies. Remarkable. It was tough conditions out there towards the end but Fowler was about as unflappable as you can get. A bogey on one hole was swiftly forgotten and simply greeted by a birdie on the next.

He will no doubt be after a tad more consistency heading into the weekend but there are so many positives for Rickie and, more than anything, it’s just very cool to see him back up at the top of the leaderboard where he always used to be.

Jason Day taps in for a round of 78 and kudos to Justin Rose, who just misses the cut, but shot a commendable 68 in the afternoon.

Schauffele steadies the ship

03:01 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -6 (16), Rahm E (16), Hovland -2 (16)

Rahm gets stuck in the fairway bunker but shows great touch from the edge of the green to save his par. Hovland and Schauffele have outside looks at birdie but they both slide by - at least a welcome par for Schauffele after three-straight bogeys. Pars all round and two more to go.

Three in a row for Morikawa

02:57 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -5 (17*), Homa +4 (17*), Morikawa E (17*)

The par-five eighth is always gettable regardless of these tougher conditions and all three in this trio take advantage. Morikawa is up to even par and most likely safe while Scheffler now moves up to five under par and just five off the lead.

Homa, however, will need a hole-in-one at the last to avoid making the cut.

Another birdie for Rickie, leads by one

02:52 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -10 (17), Day +8 (17), Rose +4 (17)

This round from Rickie Fowler is truly unlike anything I can remember in recent US Open history. The American has pared just three holes out of the 17th he has played but finds his EIGHTH birdie after chasing up a divine iron into the 16th green. A nerveless putt and he is back in the solo lead.

Justin Rose, meanwhile, looks to be heading for the exit with his second successive bogey. He’s now at four over par with the cut at two under.

English and Irish trio make the cut

02:48 , Ben Fleming

Hatton +1 (67), Fleetwood +2 (69), Lowry +2 (70)

Some good news for the European fans still following along. Tyrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry all squeak through to make it to the weekend. Hatton, in particular, did so with a three-under-par 67 which looks to be the round of the afternoon so far.

Raining bogeys for Schauffele

02:45 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -6 (15), Rahm E (15), Hovland -2 (15)

This 15th has gone from one of the easiest holes to a really tricky customer in the space of a few hours with the added wind and sun firming up the course.

Schauffele and Rahm find themselves beyond the mound in the middle of the green and with two awfully tricky puts. Rahm sends his left of the mound and makes par but Schauffele decides to go partially over the mound to the right, but it doesn’t catch the slope.

He has a tickler down the hill...but it doesn’t drop. A third bogey in a row for Xander and he’s now back at six under par.

Hovland was in close with his approach but he can’t make his birdie putt. remaining at two under.

Double bogey for Homa

02:41 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -4 (16*), Homa +5 (15*), Morikawa +1 (16*)

And that could be that for Max. He goes long over the back of the long par-three seventh and follows that with a poor chip back onto the green. From on the green, it’s a costly three-putt and a double-bogey five for the American. Gutting for the local lad.

He now sits at five over par and will need an eagle-birdie finish to make the cut.

Morikawa, meanwhile, hits a beauty to just outside five feet. The two-time major champion makes the putt to move to one over par and a step closer to making the cut.

Fowler drops back again

02:32 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -9 (16), Day +8 (16), Rose +3 (16)

It’s a real struggle keeping up with Ricky Fowler at the minute, who is switching between birdie and bogey at will out here on the back nine. He goes way left with his drive and can’t recover as he makes a bogey five.

Justin Rose was briefly inside the cut line but he now will need a birdie in the final two holes after a bogey on 16. The Englishman finds the bunker off the tee and can’t get up and down from the fairway to save his par.

Day makes a bogey too but unfortunately for the Aussie, his tournament has long-since been over.

Back-to-back bogeys for Schauffele

02:29 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -7 (14), Rahm E (14), Hovland -2 (14)

A right mess of a hole from Schauffele as he is out of position off the tee before flying it long from the middle of the fairway. He can’t get up and down from there and it’s a bogey six on the par five. He is now back to seven under par.

Viktor gets caught up in the rough as well and he cards a bogey six as well. Rahm makes par to stay at even par.

Plenty of birdies at six

02:18 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -4 (15*), Homa +3 (15*), Morikawa +2 (15*)

The sixth was always going to be a must-birdie hole for Homa and Morikawa if they are to make the cut. And, they both do after some great wedges into the short par-four. Scheffler also makes his birdie to move to four under par.

That trio have the par-five eighth coming up which they will all be eyeing up for another birdie.

Fowler into the lead

02:14 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -10 (15), Day +7 (15), Rose +2 (15)

Man, you really can’t keep Fowler down. He’s not making many pars but he is making a hell of a lot of birdies and the American finds another one at the par-three 15th. He uses the backstop well and drains the eight-foot putt to move up to ten under par.

Rose has a good look at birdie as well but his slides by, while Day ends up in a similar spot to where Scheffler was earlier and can’t two-putt from round the mound.

Bogey for Schauffele

02:09 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -8 (13), Rahm E (13), Hovland -3 (13)

It’s a difficult pitch for the American, who leaves himself 9 feet for his par....missed. He drops out of the lead and back to even par for his round.

Rahm and Hovland make par to stay as they were.

Bogeys for Homa and Morikawa

02:07 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (14*), Homa +4 (14*), Morikawa +3 (14*)

The last thing that Morikawa and Homa would have wanted. Bogeys for the pair of them. Max airmails the green and can’t get up and down from the thick bermuda rough. Morikawa, meanwhile, has to hack out of the rough after his drive and can’t get up and down from the fairway.

Scheffler has a good look at birdie but another opportunity slides by for the world number one - he remains at three under par.

What is going on with Justin Thomas?

02:03 , Ben Fleming

Thomas +15 (16*)

Yes, you read that correctly. FIVETEEN over par for the 2022 US PGA Champion. Three double bogeys, seven bogeys and just one birdie today.

He currently sits in 155th...that’s second last in the field. A couple of days to forget for the American.

Rose inside the cut line

02:00 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -9 (14), Day +6 (14), Rose +2 (14)

This long par-five has got harder with the wind picking up and Fowler takes his medicine by laying up. He has a good look at birdie but he can’t convince himself to give it enough pace and it’s just a par.

Day recovers from a tough lie in the bunker to make par but Justin Rose takes advantage as he floats in a delightful wedge to just nine feet. He drains the birdie putt for successive birdies and the Englishman is now two under par and inside the cut line.

DeChambeau declining

01:52 , Ben Fleming

DeChambeau -1 (15)

Not the round Bryson was after at all. He hasn’t made a birdie since the fifth and has instead found five bogeys since to plummet down to one under par. Not good.

Brits and Irish fighting the cut line

01:50 , Ben Fleming

Hatton +1 (15), Lowry +1 (15*), Fleetwood +2 (15*)

So much going on elsewhere on the course as many golfers battle to get above that two-over mark. Hatton has made two birdies in his last three holes to move the Englishmen to one over par while Lowry has a birdie on the sixth to get him one inside the cut.

Fleetwood has endured a topsy-turvy round so far but his sixth birdie of the round has him at two over par and right on the cut line.

Big par save for Homa

01:47 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (13*), Homa +3 (13*), Morikawa +2 (13*)

It’s clear Max hasn’t got anywhere near close to his ‘A game’ out there today but he is grinding to try and make the cut. His tee shot goes way right into the bunker on the long par-three fourth but it’s a great 15-foot par save to save par, which is greeted with a fist pump from the California native.

Scheffler and Morikawa stay as they were with two pars.

Another dropped shot for Rahm

01:44 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -9 (12), Rahm E (12), Hovland -3 (12)

This back nine is certainly proving tricky and Rahm is experiencing that more than most out there at the minute. That being said, it’s a totally unforced error, with a wedge from the fairway finding the bunker. The Spaniard can’t get up and down and it’s more frustration as he drops to even par for the tournament.

Hovland hits a great approach from the rough and two-putts for his par but it’s Schauffele with the big putt to take the solo lead. It’s just over 12 feet and slopping from right to left but the American doesn’t give it enough and it slides by on the low side.

Topsy-turvy from Fowler

01:40 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -9 (13), Day +6 (13), Rose +3 (13)

Just two pars from Fowler’s 13 holes - it’s certainly been an up-and-down day and that continues on 13. He has 60 feet for a birdie but leaves it way short and can’t drain the ten-footer for par. It’s another dropped shot and he goes back into a share of the lead with Schauffele and Clark.

Day makes his par but Rose pours one in with plenty of pace for a birdie - he’s now just one off the cut line.

Superb bounce-back from Homa

01:31 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (12*), Homa +3 (12*), Morikawa +2 (12*)

One thing is for sure - Max Homa isn’t going to give up without a fight. His drive lands in the fairway for the first time in a while but it’s stuck in a divot...not to worry - sand wedge to four feet, birdie putt, back to within one of the cut. Nice.

Morikawa follows his playing partner in with a birdie to move himself on to the cut line but Scheffler can’t make the most of his birdie chance from seven feet and has to settle for par.

Back-to-back birdies for Hovland

01:27 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -9 (11), Rahm -1 (11), Hovland -3 (11)

You won’t see many better tee shots into this long par-three 11th than that from Hovland. He steps up and drains the putt to make it count. Two in a row for Viktor and he’s up to three under.

Schauffele secures his par with a solid two-putt but Rahm is off the green with his tee shot and can’t get up and down to save his par. Plenty of frustration from the Spaniard as the putt flies past the left edge and he moves back to one under par.

Fowler back ahead

01:22 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -10 (12), Day +6 (12), Rose +4 (12)

Well, Rickie’s made me look a bit silly. There may have been some nerves on the 11th but he quickly banished them the following hole. A solid iron to 23 feet but a lovely putt on a difficult green to move back into the lead by one shot. Superb stuff from Rickie.

Rose gets in the thick greenside rough but does excellently to get up and down from close range. Day also makes par.

Another bogey for Homa

01:19 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (11*), Homa +4 (11*), Morikawa +3 (11*)

The wheels are very quickly falling off this second round of Max Homa. He’s again not on the fairway off the tee and has to lay up on the par four. He gives himself a look at a par save but he can’t manage it and he’s now two strokes off the projected cut.

Morikawa dips below the cut line as well with a bogey while Scheffler stays solid with a par having also been forced to lay up.

Hovland on the move

01:08 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -9 (10), Rahm -2 (10), Hovland -2 (10)

After the records fell yesterday, it’s a far more tense atmosphere on the back nine for our leaders. Schauffele gives himself a great look at birdie on the tenth but it just drifts past on the low side.

Hovland, meanwhile, makes a slippery putt down the slope for his second birdie in three holes.

Back-to-back bogeys for Fowler

01:03 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -9 (11), Day +6 (11), Rose +4 (11)

Right, I’m going to say it - that was full of nerves from Rickie Fowler. He’s got around 40 feet for par on this long par-three 11th but leaves himself work to do for his par. From just inside six feet, it’s virtually a slice with his putter and the ball gets nowhere near the hole. Another bogey and he’s now back in a share for the lead with Clark and Schauffele.

Another bogey for Day almost ends his hopes of making the cut while Rose hangs on in with a good par save.

Birdie as Scheffler hits the front nine

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:57 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (10*), Homa +3 (10*), Morikawa +2 (10*)

Find the fairway and the par-five first almost takes care of itself. Scottie does the first part and is able to get down for a birdie four. Even par for his round and back to three under.

Morikawa does the same and gets up to the cut line on two over but Homa gets sucked into the rough. He has to lay up and can’t make his birdie and so remains at three over par.

Good par save from Schauffele

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:50 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -9 (9), Rahm -2 (9), Hovland -1 (9)

Schauffele finds himself in that tricky greenside bunker but it’s a really tidy up-and-down to ensure he remains just one shot back of Fowler.

Rahm and Hovland can’t make their looks at birdie and this trio now heads for the trickier back nine.

Back-to-back birdies for Woodland

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:46 , Ben Fleming

Woodland -2 (10*)

The 2019 US Open champion makes back-to-back birdies on the turn and he is now up into a tie for 12th. A very solid tournament so far from him.

Topsy-turvy Fowler makes bogey

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:44 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -10 (10), Day +5 (10), Rose +4 (10)

Birdie, bogey, birdie, and now bogey for Rickie Fowler as he drops back to ten under. It all comes after trouble off the tee, meaning he is forced to lay up from the bunker. He can’t get up and down from the middle of the fairway and it’s another bogey.

Day makes a costly bogey after his birdie the hole prior, while Rose makes a tidy par.

Real trouble for Homa

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:41 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -2 (9*), Homa +3 (9*), Morikawa +3 (9*)

About 25 minutes ago, Max Homa might have been thinking about a move up the leaderboard on the easier front nine. Now, after back-to-back double bogeys, he’s facing a battle to make the cut.

It’s another bunker he finds himself in after three and he can’t scramble, making another six. Not good.

Scheffler and Morikawa make slightly more regulation pars to remain as they were.

Birdie for Schauffele

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:36 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -9 (8), Rahm -2 (8), Hovland -1 (8)

That par-five eighth is very gettable to end the front nine and Xander makes no mistake. He lays up but a solid putt gives him the bounce-back-birdie he was looking for and he moves back to nine under par.

Hovland also makes birdie to get back into the red but Rahm can’t make advantage and continues to stutter with a disappointing three-putt.

Fowler makes the turn with a two-shot lead

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:29 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -11 (9), Day +4 (9), Rose +4 (9)

I’m not sure the ninth is one to be messed with today and Fowler agrees, flying it into the heart of the green before two-putting for his par.

Justin Rose scrambles well from the greenside bunker but Jason Day flies in the face of my thinking with an aggressive tee shot and a good birdie putt. He needs to be aggressive, mind, as he’s two shots below the projected cut.

From bad to worse for Bryson

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:26 , Ben Fleming

DeChambeau -2 (10)

Bogey follows bogey for DeChambeau with a three-putt on the tenth. His round is going in completely the wrong direction.

Bogey for Scheffler

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:24 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -2 (8*), Homa +1 (8*), Morikawa +3 (8*)

Fresh off his birdie on the 16th, Scheffler can’t keep the momentum going and he’s scrambling again after being in the greenside bunker. This time, he can’t sink the putt and it’s back to two under par.

Morikawa makes his par but it’s a hole to forget for Max Homa who can barely shift his barely after his drive ends up in the thick rough. It ends in a double-bogey six and he’s now got to be wary that he doesn’t slide below the cut line.

DeChambeau fading on the front nine

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:19 , Ben Fleming

DeChambeau -3 (9)

Bryson goes way left aiming for the par-three ninth and can’t make the big putt to save par. That’s three shots dropped in his last four holes and he finishes the easier front nine in level par - that will be disappointing given the start he made.

Bounce-back-birdie for Fowler

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:15 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -11 (8), Day +5 (8), Rose +4 (8)

If there were plenty of dropped shots from the other trio on the seventh, then it’s the complete opposite ahead on the next hole.

Rickie Fowler catches a good break off the tee as his tee shot just avoids the out-of-bounds section. From there it’s a lay-up, chip on and lovely putt for a birdie four to move to clear at the top.

Jason Day also makes a birdie but the hole belongs to Justin Rose who chips in for an eagle to get himself back to four under par and with a chance at making the cut.

Bogeys all round

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:10 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -8 (7), Rahm -2 (7), Hovland E (7)

It’s been a quiet start for Hovland to this round with sixth-straight pars but it takes a turn for the worse on the long par-three seventh. His tee shot is short and right and his chip runs through the green and down off the slope.

From there, it’s a rather impressive two-putt to ensure it is just the one dropped shot, but not ideal for the Norwegian.

Rahm finds himself in a similar spot to Rickie Fowler and, like our American leader, he three putts for a bogey four. Schauffele does the same and the seventh has three victims.

Good response from Scheffler

Friday 16 June 2023 23:58 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (7*), Homa -1 (7*), Morikawa +3 (7*)

Fair play to Scottie, that is a super response at 16. He’s in some thick rough but muscles it out superbly and it runs to the back of the green where the pin is located. From seven feet, he drains the birdie putt to get back to three under. He’s got the easier front nine ahead of him so still plenty of time for him to make a move.

Homa and Morikawa make their pars.

Bogey for Fowler

Friday 16 June 2023 23:47 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -10 (7), Day +6 (7), Rose +6 (7)

Fowler’s tee shot into this mammoth par-three seventh trickles onto the front of the green but, from there he still has about 90 foot worth of putt. The first one comes up well short and he does the same thing with his second - a bogey four for our leader.

Day makes a par while Rose gets in all sorts of bother off the tee and makes an untimely bogey to move back to six under par.

Schauffele off and running

Friday 16 June 2023 23:45 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -9 (6), Rahm -3 (6), Hovland -1 (6)

There are very few out there who have decided to take on this sixth hole in one. Schauffele and Rahm opt to lay up and make no mistake with both securing birdie as Schauffele moves up alongside Clark in second.

Hovland takes it on but goes right and can’t chip and putt for his birdie, remaining at one under par.

Bogey for Scheffler

Friday 16 June 2023 23:40 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -2 (6*), Homa -1 (6*), Morikawa +3 (6*)

Missed opportunity at the last and now a dropped shot at the next for the world number one. He flies his wedge into the par three long and it ends up in an awkward position between the pin and a massive hump in the green.

He goes round the hump to the right but slides his par putt wide of the hole on the left side. A dropped shot to move him back to two under par and more things to ponder around the green.

Homa saves his par while Morikawa is rewarded with a much-needed birdie after a fine tee shot approach.

More putting concerns for Scheffler

Friday 16 June 2023 23:33 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (5*), Homa -1 (5*), Morikawa +4 (5*)

Scheffler will be eyeing a move up the leaderboard today but it hasn’t materialised as such. His tee shot goes way left but he manages to get a good look at birdie...but yet again the flat blade costs him.

He remains at three under with a par, as does Homa while Morikawa makes another bogey to drop to four over par and two over the projected cut.

Missed chance for Schauffele

Friday 16 June 2023 23:29 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -8 (5), Rahm -2 (5), Hovland -1 (5)

While Fowler has been making moves early on, it’s been a quiet start for the other overnight leader, Xander Schauffele. He carves out a good look at birdie on the fifth but he walks on it early as he sends it to the left of the hole.

Rahm and Hovland also make par to remain as they were.

Back-to-back bogeys for DeChambeau

Friday 16 June 2023 23:25 , Ben Fleming

DeChambeau -4 (7)

Not the way Bryson would have wanted his round to have gone after that hot start. Consecutive bogeys means the American has now dropped back to four under par and seven shots off Fowler in the lead.

Fowler leads by two

Friday 16 June 2023 23:21 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -11 (6), Day +6 (6), Rose +5 (6)

Rickie is red hot with the putter this week and that continues at the short-par-four sixth. He lays up and uses the backstop well with his wedge approach before draining his birdie effort from just inside ten feet.

Back to eleven under and the American restores his two-shot lead at the top.

Justin Rose follow him in with a much-needed birdie putt to move him back to five over par and three shots from the cut. Jason Day can’t find that birdie though and remains at six over.

Kim plugging away nicely

Friday 16 June 2023 23:17 , Ben Fleming

Kim -4 (5)

Si Woo Kim has been very steady so far with four-straight pars but he gets going with a birdie at five. He’s now at four under par with the gettable short-par-four sixth coming up.

Steady start for Schauffele

Friday 16 June 2023 23:10 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -8 (4), Rahm -2 (4), Hovland -1 (4)

A steady start for Schauffele as he lags up a long birdie attempt for his fourth successive par. Hovland also makes par but it’s Rahm who makes his first backwards step of the round with a bogey four.

Good par save for Homa

Friday 16 June 2023 23:08 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (4*), Homa -1 (4*), Morikawa +3 (4*)

It’s fair to say that this trio haven’t got going yet. Max goes way left with his iron into the 13th green, but it’s a superb putt to save his par and keep him in the red. A par for Scheffler but another bogey for Morikawa moves him below the cut line - another disappointing tournament by the looks of it for the two-time major champion.

Fleetwood on the cut line

Friday 16 June 2023 23:03 , Ben Fleming

Fleetwood +2 (6*)

Tommy continues his battle to stay here for the weekend and the enticing par-three 15th offers the perfect opportunity. The Englishman makes no mistake and rolls in a much-needed birdie to move up to two over par.

DeChambeau drops back

Friday 16 June 2023 23:01 , Ben Fleming

DeChambeau -5 (6)

The short par-four sixth was always going to be taken on by Bryson but the American ends up in the barranca. He tries to hack it up onto the green but his chip comes up just short in the greenside rough, much to his exasperation. From there, it’s an up and down for par which he doesn’t make so he drops back to five under par after his three early birdies.

Bogey for Fowler

Friday 16 June 2023 22:51 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -10 (4), Day +6 (4), Rose +6 (4)

The good run comes to an end for Rickie Fowler after an errant tee shot gets him in trouble on the par-three fourth. He can’t quite make the putt to save par and he drops back to ten under par.

Alongside him, Jason Day makes bogey to move to six over par - he and Justin Rose have a huge task on their hands to make the cut as things stand.

DeChambeau on the move

Friday 16 June 2023 22:50 , Ben Fleming

DeChambeau -6 (5)

Bryson is right in the mix here and he rolls in yet another birdie putt - his third of the day - to move to six under par. A superb round in the making for the American. He’s playing alongside England’s Tyrell Hatton who makes a good par save to stay at three under par.

Early bogey for Homa

Friday 16 June 2023 22:41 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (3*), Homa -1 (3*), Morikawa +2 (3*)

Not the start the Californian native would have wanted with a real unforced error into the par-four 12th. It lands in the greenside bunker and he’s unable to scramble to save his par.

Scheffler is in the same bunker but he can make his par to stay at three under par. Morikawa makes par but an earlier bogey on 11 has him on the projected cut line at two over par.

Missed chance for Rahm

Friday 16 June 2023 22:35 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -8 (2), Rahm -3 (2), Hovland -1 (2)

Jon Rahm could do with a fast start on this easier front nine and he has a great opportunity to do just that after a super iron into the second hole. It’s a great opportunity...but he can’t convert. That’s a bad miss for the world number two.

Hovland also misses a slightly trickier chance while overnight leader Xander Schaffele also makes par.

Fowler on the charge

Friday 16 June 2023 22:26 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -11 (3), Day +5 (3), Rose +6 (3)

This is getting frankly ridiculous - does Rickie Fowler realise he’s supposed to be playing a US Open? He hits a gorgeous iron into the par-four third to just over three feet and from there, it’s a simple birdie putt.

Three birdies in a row and he sits two clear at 11 under par - scintillating stuff.

Day and Rose make par to remain as they were.

Amateur alert

Friday 16 June 2023 22:23 , Ben Fleming

Sargent -3 (4)

At the Masters, we had Sam Bennett and at the US Open, it may well be the turn of young Gordon Sargent. The young American hits the ball a country mile and two birdies in his first four holes has him sitting nicely at three under par

Scheffler and Homa underway

Friday 16 June 2023 22:20 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (1*), Homa -2 (1*), Morikawa +1 (1*)

The other group to watch is that containing major champions Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa alongside LACC course-record holder Max Homa. There are three pars at their opening hole but all three will want to make moves in this second round ahead of the weekend.

Eagle start for Rahm

Friday 16 June 2023 22:17 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -8 (1), Rahm -3 (1), Hovland -1 (1)

The final big pairing is underway with overnight leader Xander Schauffele. The American’s tee shot finds the bunker and he is forced to lay up. No birdie on the par-five first and he remains at eight under.

Hovland also makes par but it’s Jon Rahm making a move with a superb long-range eagle. His facial expression suggests even he can’t believe that went in but it’s the perfect start to his round and moves him up to three under par.

Fowler takes solo lead

Friday 16 June 2023 22:13 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -10 (2), Day +5 (2), Rose +6 (2)

Goodness me, give everyone else a chance Rickie! Another glorious iron into the second and another very solid stroke with the putter gives the American his second birdie in as many holes. He’s the quickest person ever to -10 in US Open history and setting this tournament alight.

Day and Rose must think they are playing a different course - they both make par to remain at five and six over respectively.

Two birdies in three for DeChambeau

Friday 16 June 2023 22:11 , Ben Fleming

DeChambeau -5 (3)

The LIV golfer has won of these US Opens before and is right in this tournament as he trickles in another birdie at the third. He’s up to five under par and off to a great start.

McIlroy finishes in style

Friday 16 June 2023 22:08 , Ben Fleming

McIlroy -8 (67), Koepka E (69), Matsuyama +1 (69)

We’ve seen three hole-in-ones at 15 and we almost have one at the ninth after a superb tee shot from McIlroy. It lands, takes two bounces and almost drops into the hole. It stops at three feet from the hole and he taps it in for a final-hole birdie. What a round from McIlroy and a superb second-nine response after a slow start. A three-under-par 67 has him at eight under par and well in contention for the weekend.

Brooks gets in trouble off the tee and his bunker shot is always feeding away from the hole. His bogey moves him back to even par for the tournament while a birdie at the last for Matsuyama sees him safely in the clubhouse at one over par.

Min Woo Lee well placed

Friday 16 June 2023 22:02 , Ben Fleming

Lee -6 (65)

The round of the day belongs to the Australian Min Woo Lee who hits a delightful iron into the 18th to make another birdie. Just one bogey for the round as well and a five-under-par 65 has him at six under for the tournament and in a tie for sixth. Fantastic performance.

Fast start from Fleetwood

Friday 16 June 2023 21:59 , Ben Fleming

Fleetwood +1 (2*)

The Englishman was so close to recording his maiden PGA Tour victory last week at the Canadian Open but his focus today must be on making the cut. In that regard, it’s a terrific start with a birdie at the tenth and the tricky 11th. Back to one over par and inside the cut line as things stand.

Fowler joins Clark at the top

Friday 16 June 2023 21:57 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -9 (1), Day +5 (1), Rose +6 (1)

Fowler picks up right where he left off yesterday. His second ends up in the greenside bunker but it’s a nice up-and-down to make birdie at the par-five first. He’s up alongside Clark in a share of the lead at nine under.

Rose’s second leeks right and he can only make par but it’s a disaster start for Day. Having found the bunker off the tee, he can only just get out with his second swing before finding the thick rough again with his third. It’s a double-bogey five to start and a big task now to make the cut.

McIlroy two back of lead

Friday 16 June 2023 21:53 , Ben Fleming

McIlroy -7 (17*), Koepka -1 (17*), Matsuyama +1 (17*)

That is a textbook takedown off a par five from McIlroy. Superb tee shot, spanking iron to 20 feet and a two-putt for birdie. He moves up to seven under par alongside Harris English and just two off the lead.

Brooks make his birdie too and moves back in the red but Matsuyama can only make par and must avoid bogey at the last to make the cut.

DeChambeau starts with a birdie

Friday 16 June 2023 21:44 , Ben Fleming

DeChambeau -4 (1)

Bryson is in the group just ahead of Rickie Fowler and the LIV golfer begins in the best possible way. He still hits it a fair old way even with his recent weight loss and lags his eagle putt up near the hole for a kick-in birdie to move to four under par.

Bennett four off the lead

Friday 16 June 2023 21:42 , Ben Fleming

Bennett -5 (68), Smith -4 (67), Fitzpatrick +1 (70)

Three pars for this trio at their final hole means all three will be back for the weekend. The defending champion, Matt Fitzpatrick is some way back at +1 but has a hole-in-one from today to look back on fondly.

Sam Bennett and Cam Smith, meanwhile, are poised for a weekend in contention as they sit pretty at five and four under respectively.

Spieth set to miss the cut

Friday 16 June 2023 21:39 , Ben Fleming

Spieth +3 (71), Finau -3 (69), Cantlay +2 (71)

Bogeys at 16 and 17 are the last thing that Spieth would have wanted as it pushes the American beyond the two-over-par projected cut line. He’s unable to make a birdie at the last and that should mean he’ll be joining Phil Mickelson among the early departers from this tournament.

Cantlay makes his par to scrape through at one over while Finau gets up and down from the greenside bunker impressively to sit nicely at three under par.

Fowler underway

Friday 16 June 2023 21:36 , Ben Fleming

Fowler -8, Day +3, Rose +6

Well, it’s been a while since we’ve had Rickie in contention but he gets his second round underway just one shot back off the lead. He finds the fairway as does one of his playing partners Justin Rose, who needs a huge round today to avoid the cut.

Jason Day’s tee shot veers left into the bunker and he’ll have to lay-up into this opening par five.

Par for McIlroy

Friday 16 June 2023 21:32 , Ben Fleming

McIlroy -6 (16*), Koepka E (16*), Matsuyama +2 (16*)

I’ve aged a good couple of years since this group hit a shot, such was the delay caused by Brian Harman. Regardless, McIlroy is unfazed and knocks his birdie effort close before tapping in for par.

Koepka got into some bother off the tee and couldn’t control his chip out of the rough short of the hole. It’s a bogey for him and back to even par. Matsuyama also makes bogey and drops to two over.

Smith looking positive

Friday 16 June 2023 21:27 , Ben Fleming

Bennett -5 (17*), Smith -4 (17*), Fitzpatrick +1 (17*)

After the year we have had in professional golf, it feels like an age ago that Cam Smith was hoisting the Claret Jug at St Andrews last year. Nevertheless, the Aussie is quietly sneaking into contention with another birdie - this time at the par-five eighth - to move to four under par.

Bennett misses with his birdie putt and makes par, as does Fitzpatrick.

Double bogey for Harman

Friday 16 June 2023 21:24 , Ben Fleming

Harman -3 (16*)

There has been a bit of delay with this and Rory’s group and I suspect it has something to do with Harman’s playing of the seventh, during which he is in all sorts of bother. It’s a double-bogey five and he drops back to three under.

Superb fightback from Johnson

Friday 16 June 2023 21:21 , Ben Fleming

Johnson -6 (70)

That is some comeback from Dustin Johnson. Double bogey on his second hole but he rolls in a very nice putt on the last to get back to even par for his round and six under for the tournament. That is good enough for a tie for fifth place as things stand.

Cracking stuff from the former champ.

Clark sets clubhouse lead

Friday 16 June 2023 21:17 , Ben Fleming

Clark -9 (67)

A long-range effort trickles past the hole on Wyndham Clark’s final hole. He knocks it in for another highly impressive round of golf. You suspect that one of Fowler of Schauffele may well usurp him at the top of the leaderboard when their rounds are finished but he will be right in the thick of it come the weekend.

Lee on the charge

Friday 16 June 2023 21:11 , Ben Fleming

Lee -5 (16)

Min Woo Lee had a great showing at The Players a few months ago and is certainly putting on a great display here. Just one bogey for his round today but he notches up his fifth birdie of the day on the difficult 16th to move to five under and a tie for sixth.

Bogey for Bennett

Friday 16 June 2023 21:08 , Ben Fleming

Bennett -5 (16*), Smith -3 (16*), Fitzpatrick +1 (16*)

Like Clark, Bennett flies over the green on the seventh and has a difficult up and down for par. His chip runs out past the hole but he can’t make the return putt coming back. The young professional drops back to five under.

It’s another bogey for Fitzpatrick who now needs to be careful to avoid the cut.

Harris English signs off

Friday 16 June 2023 21:05 , Ben Fleming

English -7 (66)

The American leaves his long-range birdie effort short at the ninth but it’s an easy tap-in for his par to conclude another fantastic round. He’s in solo fourth and just two shots off the lead as things stand.

Clark takes solo lead

Friday 16 June 2023 21:02 , Ben Fleming

Clark -9 (17*)

It’s been a battling round for Clark in this second nine with the American required to save par on numerous occasions. He can relax a bit more on the par-five eighth and like may before him, he has a good look at birdie.

Another great putt and he moves back up to nine under par and into the lead.

Back-to-back birdies for McIlroy

Friday 16 June 2023 21:00 , Ben Fleming

McIlroy -6 (15*), Koepka -1 (15*), Matsuyama +1 (15*)

The short par-four sixth was supposed to encourage players to take it on in one. None of these three do so and all opt to lay up and use the backboard slope feeding down towards the hole. McIlroy catches his a bit thin but it just gets moving down the slope and rolls to a good distance.

He steps up and knocks it in from just inside six feet. Back-to-back birdies and now up to six under. Koepka and Matsuyama also make birdie - that’s the first time Brooks has been under par this whole tournament, I believe.

Harman looking solid

Friday 16 June 2023 20:56 , Ben Fleming

Harman -5 (15*)

He’s certainly not the biggest name on the leaderboard but Brian Harman certainly is sticking around. He tickles one down the slope for another birdie and he’s back to five under par where he started the round today.

Another birdie for English

Friday 16 June 2023 20:53 , Ben Fleming

English -7 (17*)

This man is putting on a clinic round this front nine. He takes care of the par-five eighth with his fifth birdie in his last eight holes and he now moves to seven under par and solo fourth.

Nervy wait for Mickelson

Friday 16 June 2023 20:50 , Ben Fleming

Mickelson +3 (74)

Not the round Phil would have been hoping for today and his putt on the 18th misses by a whisker. He bites his knuckle as he knows what that could mean for his weekend ambitions. The cut line is currently projected at two over par so he will need some poor scoring in the afternoon to make it into round three.

Bounce-back birdie for McIlroy

Friday 16 June 2023 20:48 , Ben Fleming

McIlroy -5 (14*), Koepka E (14*), Matsuyama +2 (14*)

The smart play from Rory off the tee who opts for three wood to allow him to shape it into the bank of the sloping fairway.

It’s a decent wedge into the green but an even better putt from McIlroy who bounces back straight after the dropped shot on the hole prior. Back to five under and sixth place.

Koepka makes a par but Matsuyama is in some bother in the bunker and now sits on the cut line at two over par.

Good par save for Clark

Friday 16 June 2023 20:45 , Ben Fleming

Clark -8 (16*)

Wyndham Clark gets himself in trouble off the tee as he yells at his ball to sit down. It doesn’t listen and it’s a very awkward up-and-down from beyond the green.

Nerveless stuff, though, from our leader and he saves par after a well-judged chip back onto the green.

Bennett into fourth

Friday 16 June 2023 20:43 , Ben Fleming

Bennett -6 (15*), Smith -2 (15*), Fitzpatrick E (15*)

Sam Bennett’s round gets that bit better in the closing holes with a delightful approach into the 15th. He knocks in the small putt and is now tied alongside Harris English in fourth.

Cam Smith gets himself in also sorts of bother in the bunker. He’s right up against the lip but somehow manages to hack it out and give himself a look at par. He can’t make it, however, and drops back to two under.

Fitzpatrick makes another solid par and remains at even.

Finau bounces back

Friday 16 June 2023 20:41 , Ben Fleming

Finau -4 (15), Spieth +1 (15), Cantlay +1 (15)

This 15th is primed for a birdie today with the location of the pin and this trio take dead aim from the tee box. Spieth goes first with his birdie attempt but can’t convince himself to give it enough pace and it dies in the jaws of the hole. He’ll have to avoid a slip-up coming in or he could be in danger of missing the cut.

Cantlay misses out as well but Finau makes no mistake as his ball loops around the hole before dropping in. Back to four under for the big-hitting American.

Johnson continues his recovery

Friday 16 June 2023 20:29 , Ben Fleming

Johnson -5 (15)

Having made a quadruple bogey on the second, Dustin Johnson has fought back well. Into the par-three 15th he uses the slopes well and sets up a very makeable birdie.

Another shot back and now just three off the lead.

Bogey for McIlroy

Friday 16 June 2023 20:26 , Ben Fleming

McIlroy -4 (13*), Koepka E (13*), Matsuyama E (13*)

The thick rough does cause trouble for McIlroy as he can only hack it out to around 30 feet. His first putt flies by the cup and there is work to do on the return. No problem in the end but it is a fourth bogey of the round for McIlroy who drops back to four under.

It’s two pars a piece for Koepka and Matsuyama.

Four pars in a row for Bennett

Friday 16 June 2023 20:24 , Ben Fleming

Bennett -5 (14*), Smith -3 (14*), Fitzpatrick E (14*)

Another good par save for Sam Bennett as he looks to close out another hugely positive major championship round. Smith and Fitzpatrick follow him in with par.

Clark misses birdie chance

Friday 16 June 2023 20:18 , Ben Fleming

Clark -8 (14*)

A really good chance goes begging for Clark who has the opportunity to move into the solo lead. It’s just under seven feet but he opens the blade and pushes it out to the right.

A par and he remains tied with Fowler and Schauffele at the top.

McIlroy in trouble

Friday 16 June 2023 20:16 , Ben Fleming

McIlroy -5 (12*), Koepka E (12*), Matsuyama E (12*)

Some of these par threes have been made even longer since yesterday and it’s that length that causes a problem for McIlroy. He’s urging it to go in the air but it comes up short and trickles back into thickish rough in front of the green.

Matsuyama takes dead aim and finds the heart of the green while Koepka’s effort squirms to the left and ends just off the green.

Finau drops back

Friday 16 June 2023 20:10 , Ben Fleming

Finau -3 (13), Speith +1 (13), Cantlay +1 (13)

Finau had got as high up as five under par but he gives another one back to the course as his par putt comes up short on the 13th.

US Open 2023

Friday 16 June 2023 20:04 , Luke Baker

Harris English is really rolling now as a second birdie in three holes puts him to -6, fourth place on his own.

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