Wyndham Clark sits atop the leaderboard at the U.S Open.
The former U.S. Open champion put together a birdie-birdie-eagle stretch to card a 6-under 64 in the opening round that had to be finished early Friday morning. That 64 is the lowest opening round in a U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.
The lowest opening round in the previous five U.S. Opens at Shinnecock had been 66, last done by three players in 2004.
Clark maintained his lead with Friday’s second round as he shot a 1-under 69, in a round filled with two bogeys, three birdies, and plenty of saves to keep his lead. His 7-under par is also a new 36-hole record at the U.S. Open.
Dustin Johnson had a strong start to the U.S. Open as he shot a 4-under 66 on Thursday. Then came Friday’s second round. Johnson, in his final year of being exempt from the U.S. Open, which he won at Oakmont in 2016, shot a 7-over 77.
The world’s No. 1 golfer, Scottie Scheffler, battled in the first round to card a 2-over 72. Scheffler, who needs to win the U.S. Open to complete the career Grand Slam, followed that up with a 2-under par 68 on Friday. That puts him at even par and tied for 11th heading into Saturday.
Even though Clark has a four-stroke lead heading into Saturday, there are plenty of notable golfers not that far behind.
Xander Schauffele shot a 4-under 66 on Friday to put him at 3-under for the tournament. He is joined there by Matt Fitzpatrick, who followed up his first round of 67 with an even-par 70. Tied with Schauffele and Fitzpatrick at 3-under were Tom Kim and Sam Stevens.
Collin Morikawa went low on Friday as well, as he shot a 5-under 65 to put him at 2-under through two rounds. Other notable golfers that are under par heading into the weekend are Justin Thomas and Sam Burns (1-under), Rory McIlroy (even par).
Former McNeese star Robert MacIntyre and Hideki Matsuyama (both at 4-over) made the cut.
Notable golfers who did not make the cut were Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, and Rickie Fowler (all 5-over), Shane Lowry, Cameron Smith, and Jon Rahm (both at 6-over), defending champion JJ Spaun (8-over), and Brooks Koepka (10-over).