Day 2 at the US Open 2021
Posted on June 19, 2021
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Friday at the US Open
The wind never got up to the same levels as Thursday, but scoring was still tricky throughout. The morning field enjoyed softer greens, but the course played longer, whilst the afternoon had the bumpier greens but the fairways were giving more reward for the drives.
Lets see what Saturday has in store and perhaps your SUBS can find some form and favour from Torrey Pines.
The low of the week so far is 67 and the high is 82, a 15 shot high/low gap which is the smallest in 21 years of the US Open. Therefore, it's going to lead to a tight leaderboard headed into Sunday. Currently there are 57 golfers within 8 shots of the lead. That’s unheard of. This has created criticism for Torrey Pines which is not creating enough birdie/triple swings.
Regardless it’s the US Open and there was a score to be had, but as forecast bogeys were around. The morning and afternoon waves both produced decent scores and shockers alike.
Despite the setup, we have still had our bizarre moments - just when you think you are in the mix, you turn away and return to a train wreck - not over 1 hole, but a build up of bad holes, consecutive bogeys.
After Thursday, Munoz was well positioned at 2 under, right in the mix, with a par 5 to play. He then makes double to finish and posts 71, disgruntled with golf he then jumps back onto the course for his 2nd round to shoot 77 and miss the cut by 2. Golf is hard and there were plenty of these stories at Torrey Pines yesterday. See Moli, Cam, Hideki, Buckley and Rafa as examples. The list goes on.
A few of the leading lights posted consecutive rounds under par including The Wolff who opened with a bogey on 10 and then played 17 bogey-free holes to nearly tie the 36 hole leaders Henley and Blandy.
However, overall, the day belonged to Blandy, the 48 year old veteran, who won his first European event at his 478th attempt and now with the 36 hole lead at a major. His short game has been superb and although he remains a long shot considering his lack of experience in majors, don’t write him off too soon. He has not missed a putt inside 10 foot all week - something no one else can claim.
And before we also write off Henley too, consider this:
As recently as mid-April, Henley was leading the PGA Tour this season in scoring average. Players ranked in the top 10 in strokes gained approach in each of the last 2 PGA Tour seasons is a short list:
Henley, Collin, JT, Hatton and Casey.
The top 2 have never had a top 10 in a major, so having written off those leaders at 5 under (against all general data), our players at 4 under present much more pedigree and suddenly the 2 and 3 unders are also packed with contenders, although not major rich in quantity! They are all within the top 10 and look hungry.
In the leaders favour, the list of probable champions has already shrunk dramatically:
23 of the last 25 champions were within 2 of the lead heading into the weekend
24 of the last 25 champions were inside the top 6 heading into the weekend
The 2 players to last win from outside the top 10 at halfway? Webb in 2012 at Olympic and Corey in 1995 at Shinnecock, with that famous 4 wood.
This rules out a number of hopefuls, but there is always a chance and this needs to mean a charge on Moving Day.
Round of the Day
Just like Thursday, 67 and 4 under proved to be the zenith for the players. This was posted 4 times: Blandy, Bubba, Hughes and Collin all got amongst it.
Most of them made merry on the front 9, with a string of birdie opportunities throughout. Bubba was all about the birdie feast and gave a candid interview afterwards.
Hughes made 3 birdies on holes 10 to 12 to start his round - easily the toughest stretch at Torrey Pines, but then went quiet on the front 9 later in the day. All of his birdies were from long range - his shortest being 20 ft, other ones were measured in yards!
However, round of the day probably belonged to Collin who had a miserable Thursday and opened with a bogey to be outside the cut line. He rallied with 5 birdies and no bogeys over the next 17 holes. This included a rally on holes 6 to 9 and a front 9 of 31.
The course presents birdies chances throughout, but is extremely penal on a missed shot. With it getting even firmer and faster, this penalty will become more exaggerated.
Shot of the Day
There were a few eagle hole outs as players enjoyed some highs amongst the challenges.
A challenging par save became an unlikely birdie for the charging JT to make his cutline charge a little easier.
Another Saffa, this time Gracie matched Bez’s hole out eagle from Thursday as shot of the day.
GRACIE IMAGE
Performance of the Day
You can’t look anywhere else, except the little known Englishman who leads the US Open and his 67 was imperious. His long game and putter held firm and never indicated anything other than a major veteran.
The Leaders
An interesting leaderboard with a distinct lack of major winners amongst them. This will give both the contenders hope, but also fill those chasing their first major with a leg up.
Players like Xander and Rahmbo - this presents a golden opportunity after being amongst the top 10 for so long with now reward. Interestingly, this is the 1st time Rahmbo enters the weekend in the top 5 of a major, quite extraordinary.
Boringly almost, King Louis is in the thick of it again despite a “poor” even par round on Friday.
The Chasers
Even par at a US Open is always solid and this time rewards players with a top 15 spot headed into Moving Day. Even par is also stacked with 4 major winners, a few of whom enjoyed a fruitful Friday move too.
The Chasers have a little more major pedigree with the best performing player in the majors since 2016 right in it. BK is miles ahead of anyone in scoring since 2016 and this leaderboard will fill him with glee.
The Movers
It's Moving Day up ahead and with the wind abound - there will be a chance for players to post a number and hope the field comes back to them. The field is unlikely to run away.
Does someone need to post a 65 or 66? That would get anyone making the cut under par and that’s a good place. So dare we say, the whole field is still in this? Absolutely.
The early starters on Moving Day will be hopeful of a chance at redemption. The conditions will definitely be easier for them. Perhaps there could be a move from Jordan after his 69 on Friday, otherwise higher up the board, you could fancy Collin after his superb 67. Casey is also playing for an Olympic spot so don’t rule him out with plenty on the line.
Rors is also in position for his usual weekend charge into the top 10 or DJ who finally made a cut in the 2021 majors!
Taking the weekend off
The MC list was not as deep as the most recent majors. At least DJ made the cut, so it must be an easy course.
The top 60 players (and ties) made the cut at 4 over and the biggest cutline story had to be the youngest player, 19 year old Bhatia who was the last man in the house at 4 under thanks to a closing birdie on 18.
The biggest disappointments were Hovland, Hatton and Zala.
Based on recent performances it was a surprise to see Cam, Burns, Higgo, Wallace, The Human Phenom and Ancer having the weekend off.
The US Open is a tough one to qualify for and thus you don’t get too many veterans slugging it out, but still major winners were not able to make the weekend: Zach, Stenner and JRose.
Reminder of the Stats:
Bucket 1: Rahmbo 34%, Xander 14%, Collin 11%, BK 9% & DJ 8%. (2 are under par)
Bucket 2: King Louis 21%, Jordan 19%, Zala 10%, Scottie 8% & Higgo 6%. (2 are under par & 2 MCs)
Bucket 3: JRose 17%, Lowry 14%, Gracie 9%, Bez 8% & Scotty 8%. (none are under par & 1 MC)
All in all - not too bad for the punters.
Who do you fancy for your SUB PICKS?
The crowd is chanting Jordan and that's fair enough. He is far from the limelight.
The biggest shift from Thursday to Friday came from major veteran and 2-time champ, Kaymer, who opened with a 77 and then came back with a 68 on Friday to make the cut on the number. His round included an eagle and only 1 bogey. Perhaps he is the trendsetter.
For a full view of the scores head to the US Open Leaderboard and to the majorpunter leaderboard.
majorpunter Leaderboard: