Jovial Irishman Shane Lowry possessed positive vibes and a good attitude when he arrived at challenging Oakmont Country Club for the 116th edition of the U.S. Open.
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Andrew Landry, who completed 13 holes, was at 3 under.
“To hole that second putt was massive for me and massive for my whole day”, Lowry said.
Despite his reputation for being a major underachiever, Dustin Johnson was a popular player with bettors going into the U.S. Open.
OAKMONT, Pennsylvania A hot start and a back-nine eagle pushed Jason Day 37 spots up the leaderboard and into contention in the third round at the U.S. Open on Saturday.
American Andrew Landry is two shots behind with players catching up after storms affected the first day.
The leader in the clubhouse when the day ended was Branden Grace, who a year ago at Chambers Bay was tied for the lead until he hit 3-wood onto the train track and out-of-bounds for a double bogey that cost him. Unfortunately, he had to play a 36th, the par-four ninth. Then came a bogey three holes later, then the finishing double-bogey three holes after that. Phil Mickelson went back on his word by hitting driver off the tee on the reachable 17th hole, though it didn’t help.
It’s the first time since the 2013 British Open at Muirfield that McIlroy has missed a cut at a major..
Joining McIlroy with an early trip home is world No. 5 Rickie Fowler, missing the cut at his second straight major.
The third round will resume at 12:00 BST on Sunday, with the final round following later in the day.
Oakmont presents his next big chance.
The sun began to dry out Oakmont, and with no rain in the forecast, the course reputed to be the toughest in the land was starting to show signs of revenge against the unusual low scoring. Those four birdies equaled his total from the first two rounds.
Gregory Bourdy of France caught Johnson, and briefly passed him, it what was shaping up as the round of the week.
Mickelson, meanwhile, had two holes to play Saturday to finish his second round and needed to make at least one birdie.
In a amusing turn of events, Mickelson had said there was “zero” chance he would go for the green on the drivable, par-4 17th. He shot 68-67 in Memphis last week to qualify for his first major.
Shane Lowry of Ireland had to assess himself a one-shot penalty on the 16th green when his ball moved, but he gathered himself to make an 8-foot bogey putt that allowed him to keep his wits, and he played bogey-free from there for a 70. Garcia and Piercy finished their rounds Friday night.
Westwood was a shot further back alongside England’s Andy Sullivan, former champion Jim Furyk and Daniel Summerhays, with Lee Slattery among the group on level par which included major champions Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen.
McIlroy opened with a 77 and came charging off the opening tee.
After all the stops and starts, on a golf course with dramatic hills, Jordan Spieth has mirrored renowned Oakmont Country Club’s ups and downs. He had another 72 and was eight shots behind.
Just two strokes behind Grace was the ominous figure of Australian world number one Jason Day, who made an explosive start with four birdies in his first five holes on the way to a matching 66 that included an eagle at the par-five fourth.
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Playing alongside McIlroy and reigning Masters champion Danny Willett, the popular and stylish 27-year-old finished at 11 over after finding just 14 of 28 fairways and 20 of 36 greens.
