A bogey on the par-3 16th jeopardized his standing, but he made sure he would make the weekend with a birdie on the finishing hole. At 9 under overall, Streb finds himself tied for the lead with Jimmy Walker, two shots ahead of the rest of the field.
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“It’s all about being there for Sunday afternoon, and so far so good”, Stenson said.
Despite having struggled most of this season, Walker has found his putter on these greens, recording five birdies during the second round and 11 total.
At least he knew where he was aiming.
While numerous players weren’t given the chance to provide the spectators with much action, some of them took things into their own hands. Play was suspended before the first one arrived and the second two were between 30-35 miles away from the first one. That also could strain drainage at an already saturated course that endured three inches of rain in the previous five days.
Five-times major victor Mickelson, whose birdie putt for the elusive 62 at Royal Troon veered away from the cup at the last instant, bogeyed the first on Saturday, two strokes better than his self-described “horrendous” start on Friday, but came back with four birdies in posting his two-under 68. Each golfer recorded a round-best 5-under 65.
Marc Leishman returned to face a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18 that he left short. He has won five PGA Tour titles in his career, but before this week had never led in a major championship. “So I could have easily gone the other way, but I managed to turn things around”. A bogey at the final hole – after McIlroy had holed for a birdie from 30ft on the 17th – put paid to his weekend hopes but the 27-year-old was in no doubt as to where his problems lie.
“Greed is a bad thing”, Stenson said. “And it’s easy to ask that of yourself when you’ve been on a good run and playing well that you want to make every chance”.
American world No.3 Jordan Spieth also shot 67 on Friday to move to three-under 137 for the tournament, but countryman and world No. 2 Dustin Johnson missed the cut after following up his horrific seven-over 77 on Thursday with a 72.
Streb closed with three birdies in his last four holes to reach the majors’ magic number. Tiger Woods withdrew while he recovers from back surgery, the first time he has missed all four majors in one year.
He still had plenty of work to do.
Haigh said he doubted players would be allowed to lift, clean and place due to wet conditions. It’s really disheartening. I need to go back to the drawing board and see where we go from here.
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“I’m happy to stay here until Tuesday just to get it done”, Day said. Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf each had 63 in the opening round of the 1980 U.S. Open, and Thomas Bjorn shot 63 in the third round in the 2005 PGA Championship.
