They Said It…
Morikawa on being penalized // Xander on the key to his performance in US Opens // Wyndham on leaving birdies on the green
By Roy J. Akers — www.skyviewsports.net
Wyndham Clark is a name on the leaderboard you can believe. Dustin Johnson is so 2019. Defecting to LIV nearly five-years-ago.Early in the second round, the top five on the leaderboard are all major champions with Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Matt Fitzpatrick showing that the cream indeed rises to the top.
Rising to the top
Wyndham Clark
Wyndham Clark started Rd. 2 with the lead and had a point-blank birdie attempt go awry on no. 11. With the field losing ground to par, Clark, outside of a bogey on the 478-yard par 4 ninth, has had three birdies against two bogeys. Clark’s birdie on the 18th gives him a four-shot lead as he left the course after the AM session.
Colin Morikawa
Morikawa makes a day two move with six birdies and a bogey through 15 holes and a T-2 in the early session. He would add a birdie and a bogey on 16-17 and a closeout par for a 5 under 65 and an early tie for 5th in the morning session.
Dustin Johnson goes the round day with a snowman on 15.
Johnson put up a double bogey on the same No. 11 and fell three behind Clark and a six-way tie for second. By the 15th, Johnson saw the rails come off the wagon. A messed-up bunker shot on 15 turned into a real mess. DJ’s quadruple on No. 13 pushed him to +1, seven shots behind the leader. This came after a double on 11, and bogeys on consecutive par fours on 12 and 13. DJ did birdie the par five 16th. He finishes +7 on the day.
Rory McIlroy
Things were jumping for Rory with two birdies through eight holes. Then, his round started to unravel with bogeys on 10,11,and 12 before rebounding with birdies on 13 and 14. McIlroy had a double bogey on the far-four 15th before finishing even. McIlroy is in the hunt with Shinnecock nearly getting the best of him.
The skinny
Only 10 players are below par with six of them at -2 or -1.
