In Los Angeles, Rickie Fowler concluded a round that could easily be adapted into a Hollywood script. As he strolled off the 18th green on Friday at the U.S. Open, he held the lead with the composure of a seasoned veteran who has been in such a position before.
However, it had been quite some time since Fowler experienced this level of confidence in a tournament, particularly a major. Since winning the Phoenix Open in February 2019, he had yet to taste victory. Nonetheless, he eagerly embraced the challenge that lay ahead.
Fowler’s day at the Los Angeles Country Club was anything but tranquil. His round of 2-under 68 featured a mere four pars. Remarkably, he amassed 18 birdies over 36 holes—an extraordinary feat in the demanding U.S. Open conditions—and each one was essential in propelling him to his first-ever 36-hole lead in a major championship.
In addition, he equaled the U.S. Open’s 36-hole scoring record, further solidifying his impressive performance. Following a day of low scores on the course’s opening day, Los Angeles Country Club fought back against the players, aided by scorching sunshine and a gentle breeze that prevented the esteemed golf tournament from devolving into a birdie-fest.
Fowler remained steadfast in his pursuit.
At a remarkable 10-under 130, he matched the U.S. Open record initially set by Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014. Fowler held a narrow one-shot lead over Wyndham Clark (67), while Rory McIlroy (67) and Xander Schauffele (70) trailed by two shots.
Acknowledging his position at the top, Fowler maintained a level-headed approach. “Yes, I’m in the lead, but we’re only halfway there,” he calmly remarked. “Being in the lead is a nice feeling, but it holds little significance at this point. I eagerly anticipate the ongoing challenge, aiming to execute my game to the best of my abilities.”
Fowler commenced his round with an impressive streak of three consecutive birdies, each sunk from approximately 6 feet. Although he encountered two bogeys on the front nine, he swiftly rebounded with birdies. The back nine brought two early bogeys, yet he countered with a remarkable 25-foot birdie putt. The see-saw battle continued throughout the round, culminating in a magnificent approach shot on the challenging 17th hole, leaving him with an 8-foot putt for birdie.
Schauffele, who had matched Fowler’s record-breaking 62 in the opening round, embarked on his own rollercoaster journey.
For a brief moment during the early stages of the back nine, he found himself in a tie for the lead. With the potential to secure birdies on a couple of holes, his expectations were high. However, those particular moments yielded unexpected setbacks as he encountered bogeys. Remarkably, both incidents occurred with a wedge in hand, on the par-5 14th and the 115-yard 15th hole.
Yet, Schauffele demonstrated resilience by finishing strong. He birdied the final two holes, showcasing his determination to stay firmly in contention and keep his chances alive in the tournament.
Reflecting on his performance, Schauffele described his brief setbacks as “just leaking some oil.” He acknowledged that he had missed out on promising birdie opportunities on two holes that he was expected to capitalize on. Nevertheless, he remained content with his strong finish and the overall outcome of his round.
Wyndham Clark, who recently secured his first PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow against a formidable field, began the tournament on a positive note. He showcased his skill with an impressive flop shot that led to a birdie, followed by a remarkable 40-foot birdie putt on the back nine. Clark managed to maintain his composure and steady play over his final nine holes.
Making a notable surge was Rory McIlroy, who had not won a major championship in nine years. Despite a challenging start, McIlroy demonstrated his resilience by delivering four birdies in his last five holes. With a total score of 132, he found himself in a familiar position, having been 8-under or better heading into the weekend at a major on six occasions in the past. Notably, McIlroy emerged victorious in three of those previous five instances.
McIlroy emphasized the importance of accuracy off the tee as a key factor for his success in the tournament. He believed that by consistently finding the fairways, he would be able to create scoring opportunities and navigate the course effectively. This strategic approach would be his focus in the upcoming days, trusting that a solid tee game would set him up for success.
Despite a tumultuous start, Dustin Johnson, a two-time major champion, showcased his ability to bounce back swiftly. Even after a disastrous quadruple-bogey 8 on his second hole, which involved six errant shots, a penalty, and a tap-in, Johnson remained unfazed. His remarkable resilience allowed him to post a respectable score of 70, placing him four shots behind the leader and firmly in contention as the weekend approached.
The North course at the U.S. Open did not rely on intricate trickery but instead emphasized its formidable length. USGA setup man John Bodenhamer clarified that the course’s difficulty would not be “stupid hard” but rather centered around maximizing its length. This was exemplified by the inclusion of two par-3 holes that approached nearly 300 yards in length.
Clark noted that the course played considerably long due to the adjustment of several tees, as well as the placement of back tees and back pins on certain holes. This added to the challenge and increased the overall length of the course, making it more demanding for the players.
Clark’s standout moments occurred on the 605-yard par-5 14th hole. Facing a front right pin location tucked behind an extensive bunker complex, he found himself positioned on the left side of another bunker’s sticky and difficult collar. With a skillful shot, he launched the ball high into the air, clearing a section of the bunker to land it on the small portion of green. Subsequently, he sunk a 12-foot putt for a birdie, showcasing his ability to overcome challenging circumstances.
Another notable highlight for Clark was on the 16th hole, where he made a 40-foot putt. In the practice round, he had initially misread the putt but corrected his approach during the actual round, getting the line right while referring to his scorecard.
McIlroy, on the other hand, did not anticipate such low scores in the tournament, including his impressive opening round of 65. He attributed the favorable scoring conditions to factors such as cloud cover, condensation, and greens that were more receptive to approach shots.
McIlroy acknowledged that the current conditions, with brighter and sunnier weather and a slight breeze, have contributed to the course playing a bit easier than expected. However, he anticipated that the conditions could change over the next couple of days, potentially becoming firmer and faster, which would make scoring more challenging. He expected the course to toughen up as the week progressed and become a mental and physical test for the players.
Despite some mistakes on the back nine, including errant tee shots, McIlroy managed to capitalize on the scoring opportunities on the front nine. He scored a 30 on the front nine for the second consecutive day, making the most of the holes that presented birdie chances. He concluded his round with an exceptional tee shot on the par-3 ninth hole, leaving him with a tap-in birdie putt from 3 feet.
Harris English also had an impressive front nine, scoring a 30 to complete his round of 66 and finish at 7-under 133.
English expressed his excitement for the potential challenges ahead, welcoming firmer and faster course conditions and demanding pin positions. He believed that the rough would still be penalizing, and anticipated that the U.S. Open everyone has been expecting would finally manifest.
Following the record-breaking performances on the opening day, Min Woo Lee shot a 65 on Friday to join Dustin Johnson at 6-under 134. Scottie Scheffler was among the group trailing by five shots.
All players were now chasing Fowler, who was delighted to find himself in a leading position once again. However, the true examination would begin on Saturday, both for Fowler and the rest of the field, as they awaited the arrival of a more typical and challenging U.S. Open setup.
