US Open R2: Rory McIlroy remains in the hunt as Collin Morikawa leads
Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen hit the front after 36 holes but Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are all hot on their heels.
Rory McIlroy says he was "really proud" that he shot under par in the second round of the US Open, especially after making one of the best double-bogeys of his life on the 3rd hole at Brookline.
McIlroy had something of a horror show in the deep greenside rough on the 3rd hole.
The 2011 US Open champion duffed his third shot in front of him and he then whiffed his fourth shot as the ball sunk further to the bottom of the rough.
In serious danger of throwing himself out of the tournament at the time, McIlroy chopped his ball out to some 30 feet and he duly drained the putt for an incredible double bogey.
Related: US Open LIVE 2nd Round Updates
We have ALL been there
Rory McIlroy was hacking at his ball in the long grass for some time, but ends up with a double-bogey thanks to a stunning 20-footer pic.twitter.com/MjZzDfB76Q
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 17, 2022
McIlroy recovered thereafter and moved through the gears on the back nine with birdies on the 12th, 14th and 17th to move under par for the round and to 4-under par for the championship.
That moves McIlroy to within just one shot of the lead currently set by two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, who posted a superb 66, and Joel Dahmen, who carded a 68.
"Yeah I just missed it in a spot you couldn't," said McIlroy, reflecting on his double-bogey six at the 3rd hole with Sky Sports Golf's Henni Zuel.
"That first one was a decent lie and just not the place to miss it. Second one, yeah went straight under that one. Actually the one that sat all the way down the bottom was the one I got out.
"Hideki putted before me so got a decent read, but it was massive. There aren't many double-bogeys you give a fist pump but that was important to hole that and came back really well from that."
He added: "I knew I had a lot of chances coming up, the short 5th, the par-5 8th and a few chances on the back nine. I kept telling myself I had chances. I wanted to get back to even par for the day thru 9, and didn't quite do that.
"I made two bad swings, the second shot on 3 and the tee shot on 10... they cost me three shots. But how I played the last eight holes, I am really proud... to get in under par and stay right there on the leaderboard."
The first #USOpen eagle of Jon Rahm's pro career moves him within a shot of the lead. pic.twitter.com/PnMgPZEJ2K
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2022
Defending champion Jon Rahm joined McIlroy on 4-under par after a solid 67.
American trio Hayden Buckley, Aaron Wise and Beau Hossler are also on 4-under par.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler vaulted into contention after carding a 67, while Sam Burns also posted a 67 to move to 2-under par.
Scheffler is going for his fifth win of the season and his second major title and Burns is going for his fourth title of the season and his first major title.
Viktor Hovland missed the cut on 7-over par after playing his final 11 holes in 9-over par, and Phil Mickelson had a birthday week to forget at 11-over par as his wait to complete the career grand slam goes on for another year, now at the age of 52.
US OPEN R2 LEADERBOARD
-5 C Morikawa, J Dahmen (US)
-4 R McIlroy (NI), J Rahm (Spa), H Buckley, B Hossler, A Wise (US)
-3 S Scheffler, M NeSmith, P Rodgers, B Harman, N Hardy (US)
-2 S Burns (US), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), A Hadwin (Can)
