It’s the halfway stage at 2023 US Open
An US Open is usually defined by tight fairways but Los Angeles Country Club is different as the size of the fairways is massive. Big fairways means that players can hit the ball harder as it takes a really wide shot to end up in the rough. It’s still important to hit the fairways saying that as some of the rough is hairy especially the grass around the bunkers. The USGA will look to make the pin positons extreme over the weekend as this will protect the course especially in making it harder for approach shots.
Before the US Open they didn’t water the course for a month and the warm conditions on Friday dried out the course. The USGA will want the course to be very dry as this makes it more difficult but the early damp conditions could slow the course down in making it more softer. The wider set up could make it more exciting over the weekend especially in the amount of wedge shots that the players will give themselves. Fans of golf want even par to win the US Open but I like Los Angeles as it’s a different to previous years.
Rickie Fowler has been back on the leaderboards in 2023 due to returning to his former coach Butch Harmon. His putting has been fantastic over the first two rounds especially in breaking the record to shoot 62 on day one. His second round multiple bogeys and birdies but battled well to shoot a second round of two under. Fowler has never won a major and their will be a lot of pressure on him over the weekend playing in the final group. Golf fans would love to Fowler to win this weekend as he has been a real comeback story in 2023 but he will need to get the better of major champions Dustin Johnson, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Cameron Smith.
It has been two great rounds for 2011 US Open champion Rory McIlroy. He came out of the blocks quickly on day one as he shot five under on the front nine. McIlroy was on six under playing the 18th on day one and done well to bogey the last to shoot an opening round of 65. The Northern Irishman started his second round on the back nine and reached the turn in two over. His course management was great on the back nine and played great golf which included a fantastic tee shot at his final round to shoot a second round of 68. McIlroy is in great shape as he is only two shots behind the lead going into the weekend.
The rise of Wyndham Clarke has been remarkable after winning at Quail Hollow his game has gone to another level as he shot a second round of three under. Clarke is in a great position as he is only one shot behind leader Fowler. Xander Schauffele found it difficult to follow up his exceptional first round of 62 but finished with two birdies to shoot a second round of even par. Harris English is also well in the mix as he shot a second round of four under as he goes into the weekend just three behind Fowler.
Other contenders are 2016 Dustin Johnson who came back from a quadruple bogey on the second hole to shoot a second round of even par. Johnson is on six under but 2021 Masters Scottie Scheffler is on five under his tee to green game has been amazing all year but has improved on the greens over the first two rounds. Min Woo Lee is also on six under after a second round 65 and 2021 Scottish Open winner is also has a great chance of winning over the weekend. 2022 The Open champion Cameron Smith is looking to win his second major and is currently on four under going into the weekend. Tony Finau is a shot further back on three under but needs a low third round to bring himself into the mix.
The early action will be interesting to see how the course sets up and see if anyone can make a move by shooting a low score. Brooks Koepka even par, Viktor Hovland and Bryson DeChambeau also on one under are most likely to shoot a low score. Absolutely fantastic that Padraig Harrington made the halfway cut and also Shane Lowry made the cut on two over. Two rounds to go and I’m really looking forward to see how the weekend goes at the US Open.