This week - U.S. Open week - we're supposed to see them win ugly.
Day had never missed a cut at the US Open and suffered his first weekend off at the majors since the 2012 US PGA Championship.
"Showed up for the last six holes, anyway", said the four-times major victor, who made four birdies on his second nine, including his finishing hole, the par-three ninth. He set the target early under warm sunshine, and even as the wind tapered in the afternoon, no one could catch him. He didn't make a birdie the rest of the way and had to settle for a 70.
The world number 50 headed to the clubhouse on 12 under, one ahead of Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and England's Tommy Fleetwood.
The 39-year-old was only able to move his fourth shot a matter of inches in heavy rough over the back of the green on the par five, before hacking out sideways and taking three putts from just off the green.
The wind at Erin Hills is finally expected to pick up for Sunday's final round, which could put a halt to all the record-setting scoring that's made the U.S. Open leaderboard look more like one at a regular PGA Tour stop.
Now, he's still very much in play, at six under after shooting a 73.
So now we head into Sunday with a crowded group at the top that includes no major champions but several world-class players.
"Tomorrow will be a very cool experience", Fleetwood said.
He walked to the 18th green to a rousing ovation and left it as the U.S. Open clubhouse leader, though at five under par Steve Stricker eventually finished 11 strokes behind victor Brooks Koepka.
"It was a good display, all my own fault, of what can happen if you get out of position on this golf course, which is what I did on 14", Casey said. There have been no reports yet of anyone getting sick.
And then Friday, a 94-year-old man at the tournament for the first time stopped breathing while in a grandstand on the sixth hole and died of what Washington County officials said appeared to be natural causes.
Brooks Koepka lifts maiden major title at US Open
Open finish coming back in 2014 when he tied for fourth place. "When that happened it did give me a lot of confidence". Open record for consecutive birdies after making six in a row during his four-under 68 on Thursday.
Not too exhausted to hang in there against golf's younger generation.
McIlroy, sidelined for a month with rib and back injuries, could not shake off the rust missing the U.S. Open cut for the second consecutive year. He went from pouring putts into the center of the cup to burning the edges, and his 39 on the back nine cost him the lead, though not his chances of breaking through for that first major.
After a record number of scores under par during Round 1, anyone who knows the USGA's style knew things wouldn't be quite as simple in Round 2.
Playing partner Jason Day finished with a bogey, and the two major champions strolled off together.
One stroke back are a trio of Americans in J.B. Holmes, Jamie Lovemark and first-round leader Fowler.
Day never had a chance, following his career-worst 79 in a U.S. Open with a 75. He bogeyed the 11, 12 and 13 holes and missed an easy birdie putt on the par five 14. "They've got no fear and they're gutsy players, and they're little bulldogs and they're just relentless".
"I wasn't thinking too much about 8 under", he said through an interpreter. "It was a bit of a roller coaster".
Hideki Matsuyama vaulted into contention with a 7-under 65, moving to 5 under and a tie for eighth. Bogey-free for the day standing on the 18th tee, Fleetwood suddenly went "walkabout" around the final green.
"I couldn't possibly shoot any higher than I did", Johnson said. If I do hit it well, I'm all right.
"I'm looking forward to my shot at it".
Matsuyama had a solid showing at the Masters in April. "Part of that is just age, and part I'll give credit to caddy Johnny McLaren, credit to my wife and my little boy".
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