2022 US Open: All the memorable moments from day two
Round two of the 2022 US Open saw several big names soar up the leaderboard as things got seriously bunched at Brookline. Rory McIlroy lost early momentum before bouncing back to within one of Collin Morikawa alongside Jon Rahm, but what about the other memorable moments from day two?
Scheffler makes us eat our words
We all enjoy the rare moments when the world’s best flounder to make themselves look just like us – especially when it comes from the World No 1 himself.
Scottie Scheffler was in formidable form as he surged up the leaderboard with a 67 on day two, but the Masters champion was *briefly* humanised on the par-4 5th when he made a hash of a simple pitch. As always, here’s the painfully relatable moment for you to enjoy:
Then, just when we thought he’d turned into one of us, Scheffler proved again that he’s hardly human at all, rebounding from the mishap to card three birdies and a sensational chip-in eagle at the par-5 14th. Sorry Scottie, we won’t doubt you again…
After producing the best and worst shots of the day, Scheffler moved into T6 and is now in tremendous shape to claim a second major.
Brookline trumps rebel alliance
All eyes were on the LIV golfers this week as the breakaway league continues to dominate conversation. Despite ongoing uncertainties over their major futures, the USGA allowed all 15 LIV qualifiers to compete in the US Open. So how did each player fair?
All in all, it was a pretty woeful showing. The Boston crowd was surprisingly forgiving, but when it came to the golf, a lack of playing time proved dividend as the LIV faithful placed miserably on the leaderboard.
Leading from the front, Dustin Johnson dropped three shots on day two after an opening 68 to fall to T30. Newly signed Bryson DeChambeau was one worse, sneaking into the weekend with a 71-71. Other big names were then nowhere to be seen. Louis Oosthuizen, 6-over, T98. Sergio Garcia 4-over, T65. Branden Grace and Kevin Na, 5-over, T83. Last but not least, Phil Mickelson – whose downfall now seems all but complete – 11-over, T138.
Elsewhere, only Richard Bland and Patrick Reed made the cut, as any hope of a player contending from the LIV consortium seems all but void. But hey, at least they all have Portland to look forward to in a couple of weeks.
MJ gives us a thriller
Two weeks ago, MJ Daffue had no intentions of playing at Brookline. A former wine salesman who earns his trade on the Korn Ferry Tour, the South African feared competing at Final Qualifying would jeopardise his pursuit at locking in a PGA Tour card. Hardly the cautionary tale you expect at a major championship.
Fortunately, Daffue had a change of heart after two strong finishes on the KFT earned the 33-year-old his rookie PGA Tour card. Since then, the journeyman’s gone on a fairytale run, dominating Final Qualifying to cruise into his first ever major, before looking anything but intimidated at Brookline as he opened with a 67.
On day two, the world number 819 then produced a fearlessly entertaining display, soaring to six-under on the front-nine to hold the most surprising lead momentarily. Then, on the par-5 14th, utter chaos. After puling his tee-shot into the hospitality area, Daffue decided it was best to play his second from the, err, carpet? In the ultimate ‘well I shouldn’t even be here’ moment, here’s how it played out…
Daffue would make bogey, followed by another on the 15th, and then a disastrous double on the 18th as his courageousness finally caught up with him. Still, the unlikely hero gave everyone a day to remember with his brave play, and enters the weekend T16 at his maiden major.
“If you can say you led the US Open once in your career, you can still say it was an accomplishment,” Dauffe joked afterwards.
Hole-in-one alert!
The golfing gods left it late, but finally we got it. Just as things were becoming lethargic at the end of day two, Cameron Young treated everyone to an epic hole-in-one when he aced the par-3 6th from 165 yards. While the resulting high-fives could certainly do with some work, we couldn’t care less, as Young one-shotted from deep to send his whole group beserk…
Why we all hate Brooks (apparently)
Brooks Koepka loves the US Open. The two-time champ started the week by losing his cool when he accused reporters of casting a “dark cloud” over his precious major amid LIV Golf bombardment. But despite speculation he might be joining brother Chase in the breakaway league, Koepka let his golf do the talking on day two as he rekindled the form which saw him claim back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.
Starting the round on 3-over par, the American exploded into life on Friday as he carded three birdies and a stunning eagle on the par-5 14th to post a 67.
While still five adrift heading into the weekend, Koepka appeared in better spirits after the round as he bids for a fifth major – before then producing another vintage one-liner to end the day: “People hate confidence. That’s why people aren’t a big fan of me.”
Yes, Brooks, that’s it.
Gator gets his eagle
And finally, while the par-4 5th served up a brutal pin position on day two at Brookline (just ask Scheffler), clearly no one told young Fred Biondi. With 163 yards in for his second, the amateur dialled in an inch perfect approach shot, marginally carrying the bunker before seeing his ball trickle home for the most memorable eagle…
Biondi unfortunately misses the cut at his first major start, but the hole-out gave the Florida Gators star a memory he’ll cherish forever.
What a day! What a leaderboard! Same again tomorrow?
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George Cooper
A golf fanatic his entire life, George Cooper is NCG's man for all goings-on at the top level of the game, whether it's the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA or LIV Golf. He also looks after NCG's Twitter and Facebook accounts. George is a member of Woburn, but is not friends with Ian Poulter.
