Erin Hills again lacked enough wind to be the stern test the U.S. Open wants, and it showed. Having covered the 2011 U.S. Amateur here, Erin Hills is an absolute beast when it's firm and fast.
As Putnam gazed out on this massive piece of property, he marveled at its unique Midwestern grandeur. He tied for 27th at Chambers Bay two years ago.
Player outside top 5 who will make a charge?
The U.S. Open is known for putting a premium on par, even as the USGA tries to convince golf fans that it's not preoccupied with par. Tom Weiskopf also shot 63 in the opening round of the 1980 U.S. Open at Baltusol.
What raises immediate questions about Erin Hills is the number of players under par, even with so many top stars struggling.
Fowler wasted no time in exploiting the conditions after teeing off on the 10th, rattling off four quick birdies to be four under.
It helps that Erin Hills has a sole private owner in Andy Ziegler, who closed the almost 650 acres to the public last fall to preserve its form. They are still about three hours away from teeing off.
"It looks like a PGA Tour event course setup". "They're the widest fairways we've ever played in a US Open". He's one shot back of the lead shared by four golfers who tee off later Saturday. "This went totally against the tradition of the U.S. Open".
Hideki Matsuyama had quite a day at Erin Hills.
Earlier, Thomas mixed nine birdies and two bogeys during Saturday's third round before hitting his second shot to six feet on the par-5 18th and tapped in for eagle to record the lowest round (nine under) in relation to par in US Open history.
If 12 over par was leading the U.S. Open and players had spent the last three days searching for golf balls in the deep fescue rough and signing for bogeys, the blowback would be deafening and the players would be demanding answers.
Fowler, three others share lead after two rounds at US Open
The cut was at an unusually low one over par this year, meaning that the whole field is covered by just eight shots. Open leaderboard and video highlights, with updates below. "Show up for the last six holes, anyway", McIlroy said.
A rattled Casey immediately added another bogey to extend his miserable run before hitting the turbo-charger and firing off five consecutive birdies.
English star Justin Rose said he had heard grumblings about Erin Hills earlier in the year, but came up a few weeks ago to see for himself. He's back at 1 under as he finishes his round on the front nine.
"And I like the green complexes". I think I hit 11 fairways other than the five I did (on Thursday).
Whistling Straits, which was built in 1998, has become one of the crown jewel courses for the PGA of America. That locked up a spot on his first Ryder Cup team.
Everyone expects the U.S. Open to get harder as the week goes on because it usually does.
Washington has its fantastic venues, too.
The world's second-ranked player has been hampered by injury in the lead-up to each of the first two majors in 2017, but is confident he can peak for next month's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
But Wisconsin golf has a different buzz.
Rory McIlroy has also failed to make the cut after finishing round two on five over. "I've enjoyed my time".
Making his second appearance in golf's national championship, McGirt was one 44 players who broke par, breaking a championship record that had stood for 27 years.
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