Mamaroneck, NY – Patrick Reed shot even-par 70 on Friday and will take a one-stroke lead over Bryson DeChambeau into the weekend at the 120th U.S. Open.
Reed entered the second day at Winged Foot Golf Club one shot back of overnight leader Justin Thomas, but a workmanlike round of six bogeys and six birdies, highlighted a final-hole gain to reach level par for the day, secured the halftime pole position for the 30-year old Texan.
“Yeah, you know, any time you play in the U.S. Open you know that you’re going to have one of those days that things just aren’t quite going your way, you’re not quite — whether it’s hitting quality golf shots or anything like that, and I felt like today was that day,” said Reed, whose most recent 36-hole lead came en route to victory at the 2018 Masters.
“I felt like I left a decent amount of shots out there, felt like I was a little loose with some shots off the tee and also irons, and to be able to feel like that and come out and shoot even par around a day like today, it’s definitely a positive and makes you feel good going into the weekend.”
DeChambeau, who was 1-over through 14 holes, and even-par for the tournament, caught fire down the stretch, closing with birdie-par-par-eagle en route to the day’s low round – 2-under 68, good for solo second-place on 3-under 137.
“I felt like a lot of things were working well for me. I was driving it well. My iron play was impeccable. When I got into trouble, wasn’t able to get out of it as well today as yesterday, but when I was in the fairway I was able to attack and take advantage, and finished really well today,” said DeChambeau, who will join Reed in Saturday’s final pairing.
“I hit a great drive on 6, great drive on 8, great shot on 7, and a great drive on 9 that just set me up to be able to attack that flag today, and that was a fun way to finish off at a U.S. Open so far. It’s great.”
Day-one leader Thomas struggled to a 5-over through 10 holes, but the 27-year old star righted the ship down the stretch and finished his final eight holes bogey-free with two birdies to salvage a 73.
“Yeah, I got off to a good start. I was hitting the ball well. Hit some quality shots there on 13 and really hit two good — hit my first putt just a little too hard. Hit a good putt on that short one, but it just didn’t go in,” said Thomas.
“It’s just one of those days where things — some of the par putts could have gone in, or I could have chipped it a little bit closer. At the end of the day, I drove it so bad that over the course of 18 holes it’s going to catch up to me, and it did on those first ten.”
Harris English and Rafa Cabrera Bello posted matching 70s to join Thomas at T3 on 2-under par.
Jason Kokrak (71) was the only other player in the red at 1-under par, good for solo sixth-place.
Hideki Matsuyama shot 69 – one of only three Friday scores under par – to join Brendon Todd, Matthew Wolff, Xander Schauffele, and Thomas Pieters at T7 on even-par 140.
Joining DeChambeau and Matsuyama with scores in the red on Friday was Bubba Watson, who shot 69 to jump into a five-player logjam at T12 on 1-over par.
The cut line was +7, and headliners missing the weekend included 15-time major winner Tiger Woods (73-77), Collin Morikawa (76-71), who won the PGA Championship last month, and defending champion Gary Woodland (74-74), among others.
Jordan Spieth shot 81 and missed the cut by seven shots.
2020 U.S. Open
Top 10: Round Two
Pos-Player-To Par (Today)
1. Patrick Reed -4 (E)
2. Bryson DeChambeau -3 (-2)
3. Rafa Cabrera Bello -2 (E)
3. Harris English -2 (E)
3. Justin Thomas -2 (+3)
6. Jason Kokrak -1 (+1)
7. Hideki Matsuyama E (-1)
7. Xander Schauffele E (+2)
7. Brendon Todd E (+2)
7. Thomas Pieters E (+4)
7. Matthew Wolff E (+4)
Video: Round-2 Highlights
Round-3 Pairings
1:52 pm – Schauffele (E), Pieters (E)
2:03 pm – Kokrak (-1), Thomas (-2)
2:14 pm – English (-2), Cabrera Bello (-2)
2:25 pm – DeChambeau (-3), Reed (-4)
