Fowler consolidates his leadership in birdies in a US Open without Spanish options
In total 18 birdies in the first two rounds, or what is the same, one birdie every two holes. This is how the charismatic North American player has carved his 130 shots, which means tying the lowest record of the US Open, the 130 shots hit by Martin Kaymer in the first part of the 2014 edition at Pinehurst.
The USGA timidly reacted to the widespread contempt of the first day and during the second day we lived scenes more typical of this tournament and the hardness that is assumed. If the first-day strike average (71.38) was the lowest in the tournament's 122-year history, the field hardened by almost a stroke yesterday, with players averaging 72.22 strokes.. If the first day there were 37 players who managed to get below par, yesterday the number dropped to 33.
Spanish golf could not add to this noticeable general improvement, which had a second day to forget and leaves this third major of the year with no chance of a Spanish victory. Jon Rahm seemed to come out determined to give himself a chance at everything, and his eagle on the first hole was quite a declaration of intent, Barrika's holed out from 15 meters outside the green.
On hole two, he missed a clear birdie opportunity from two meters and on hole three, after another perfectly played hole, he did not hole a four-putt either.. Here the gunpowder of the Spaniard got wet and ended up literally asking for the time and entering the tournament cutoff right at the limit (+2) penalized by two final bogeys on holes 17 and 18. The anger of the Spanish was latent. He is not used to seeing his chances of winning slip away so soon.
With an overall result of +1, Sergio García held on consistently on a day where the game was not particularly brilliant.. A round of 71 strokes that leaves him among the top 40 of the tournament. David Puig (+2) will also play the four days in his debut in grand slam tournaments. The young golfer trained at Arizona State built a 73 fighting each shot and will have the prize of enjoying the four days, something that Alex del Rey (+7) will not be able to do, who finished with 79 shots, 11 more than his first card and Pablo Larrazábal (+8) who did not have his best start of the day, managed to accumulate five over par in his first four holes, a burden from which he could no longer recover.
Rory McIIroy will start just two shots behind Fowler. After yesterday's 67 shots that were a tribute to consistency, two of the most talented and charismatic players for the public come together in the fight. In addition to Fowler and McIIroy, Dustin Johnson will start four shots from the head from sixth place and eighth is the world number one, Scottie Scheffler, distanced from the leader by five shots.