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Steve Sutcliffe, Joe Bradshaw and Paul Higham
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Goodnight for now
USA TodayCopyright: USA Today
Wow Rickie Fowler.
Eighteen birdies and eight bogeys intwo rounds – and he’s not flinched throughout.
After top-five finishes in every major, is thisfinally his time?
Xander Schauffele has not been able to keep pacewith him today, but finished strongly and will pose a threat as he seeks his maiden major.
Certainly don’t discount Rory McIlroy though,going out in the penultimate group and finely poised to attack.
We’ll be back to tell the story tomorrow evening.
See you then!
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Who has missed the cut?
Some notable names are out after round two of the US Open.
+3 Mickelson, Spieth
+4 Rose, Homa
+5 Scott
+9 Day
+14 Thomas
The top 10
-10 Fowler
-9 Clark
-8 McIlroy, Schauffele
-7 English
-6 D Johnson, MW Lee
-5 Scheffler, Bennett
-4 C Smith
Schauffele finishes with a flourish
Schauffele -8, Hovland -1, Rahm +2 (17)
He'll have a skip in his step tonight.
Outstanding from Xander Schauffele who closes with straight birdies.
He's still not managed back-to-back rounds in the 60s but that will feel very good.
What a save from Viktor Hovland too, who gets himself out of a greenside bunker and then drills in a nerveless put from 15 feet to make par.
Disappointment for Jon Rahm though and he cuts a downbeat figure after making his sixth bogey of the round to end up at +2.
'I know what I'm capable of' - Fowler
Fowler -10 (68)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Let's hear from Rickie Fowler, who has the sole lead on the second day, speaking to NBC:
"It was a little firmer green-wise. The pins were tucked a little more, on a little more slope. I felt like I left some putts short and I felt it was a little slow. Hitting up some pretty good slopes. I was struggling to hit it hard enough.
"You really don't want the other ones coming back if you hammer it by."
On his struggles: "I've learned a lot these last three years. It's more getting back to playing and knowing what I'm capable of. I know what I can do. This course does allow for plenty of offence but at the same time you can get out of position.
"Plenty of other stuff can happen so I am trying to stay disciplined. I think that's a big part of the last six to 10 months. Course management and, when I do get out of position, salvaging what I can and continue to move forward."
Post update
Rahm +1 (17)
Doesn't that sum up Jon Rahm's round?
His approach shot is utterly sublime as it tumbles out of the sky to within inches, before spinning back.
He has a 10-footer for par though.
Post update
Schauffele -7, Hovland -1, Rahm +1 (17)
Not a pleasant find for Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland as they discover their balls embedded in the rough down the left.
Lots of chat about whether this grass is penal or not. Ask Hovland as he ends up in a bunker or Rahm as he is limited to chunking it forward a mere 70 yards.
No such issues for Xander Schauffele, who takes advantage of his fairway position to launch an exquisite approach to 13 feet.
Birdie chance to level up his round.
Post update
Schauffele -7, Hovland -1, Rahm +1 (17)
RIght, into the low setting sun for the uphill, near-500 yard 18th hole.
With the glare, they really don't know where their shots are going.
Xander Schauffele has the honour and thunders it flush down the generous fairway, although both he and Jon Rahm mutter, "No idea" as their drivers let rip.
Rahm and playing partner Viktor Hovland both go left and will find their balls stuck in the rough.
Post update
Schauffele -7, Hovland -1, Rahm +1 (17)
A bogey it is for Jon Rahm who watches his putt drift by and points animatedly at the green.
Xander Schauffele is next after that fine approach and he clinically makes it count.
One shot back as he looks to clamber into contention again.
A tough hole for Viktor Hovland and he's back to level par for his round.
Post update
Rahm E (16)
Jon Rahm is thrashing at the rough with his sand wedge because he knows this 17th hole is going to be costly.
He's back in a bunker and he gets it out, but it's too flat and too low and it scoots past the hole.
A possible bogey incoming for the world number two.
Homa heading home
Scheffler -5 (68), Morikawa E (69), Homa +4 (76)
Collin Morikawa lets out a yelp after his tee shot on the par-three ninth leaks right. Perhaps he's relaxed a little too much now he knows he's here for the weekend.
Scottie Scheffler also looks a bit disgruntled with his tee shot. I can understand why. It's 15-feet left of it's target, albeit pin high.
Both are down in two to record final pars.
Max Homa, undone by a first-nine 40, is also in for par but his six-over 76 is too many and he's heading home.
Post update
Schauffele -6, Hovland -3, Rahm E (16)
Oh yes Xander Schauffele, that'll help bury the memory of some of those bogeys.
His second shot into the 17th hole is beautifully judged, leaving him with four feet for birdie.
Fowler's been here before
Rickie Fowler has held at least a share of a 36-hole lead in a PGA Tour event 11 previous times.
The only time he has held it in a major was the 2017 Masters, where he was tied with three others.
He went on to win just one of those 11 tournaments - the 2019 Waste Management Open.
Fowler takes halfway lead
Fowler -10 (68), Rose +4 (68)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
It's looking pretty gloomy in Los Angeles. It's bang on 19:00 local time as Rickie Fowler strides onto the final green. By my maths it's going to be a five and a half hour round. And it's felt like it.
The graphic tells us his birdie putt is four inches over 26 feet and those putts get made 9% of the time. Rickie's not improving that stat. But it's a tap-in par and a one-shot halfway lead.
Justin Rose has a birdie chance from half that distance. It won't be enough to keep him here for the weekend and he misses it anyway.
Post update
Fowler -10 (17)
Up on the 18th and Rickie Fowler is one decent hole from holding the halfway lead at the US Open.
He booms a 300-yard drive down the middle and follows it with a green-finder, about 20 feet from the hole.
Two putts from there and he ties the record low after 36 holes, which is Martin Kaymer's 130. A birdie gives him the record.
Pars all round
Schauffele -6, Hovland -2, Rahm E (16)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Oh yes Jon Rahm, what an approach into the 16th green. It's only a par but after finding the bunker with his tee shot, it's a hard-earned one.
Xander Schauffele needs to stop the rot and he has 40 foot for birdie. His putt tickles the hole and anyway par is a good score on this hole.
Tell that to Viktor Hovland too who misses his birdie putt and stays at three under.
Morikawa hat-trick
Scheffler -5, Homa +4, Morikawa E (17*)
Scottie Scheffler can give Max Homa a decent read here as he rolls his eagle putt up the length of the eighth green. Perfect pace, line is two feet out to the right.
Right Max, over to you... it's a decent effort but never threatens the hole. Four-foot birdie putt is the consolation.
And it's three in a row for Collin Morikawa. Cut? What cut!
Another stacked leaderboard
Here's how it stands:
-10 Fowler
-9 Clark
-8 McIlroy
-7 English
-6 D Johnson, MW Lee, Schauffele
-5 Bennett
-4 C Smith, Scheffler
Post update
Schauffele -6, Hovland -2, Rahm E (15)
The sun is setting rapidly in Los Angeles and Xander Schauffele's donned a white jumper to combat the dropping temperatures.
He's joined Viktor Hovland on the green with his second shot at 16.
Just 17 birdies on this hole today - I reckon both would be content to walk off with par.
Fowler hits back again
Fowler -10, Rose +4 (17)
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
This is incredible stuff from Rickie Fowler who hit a stunning second on the long 17th to set-up an eight foot birdie putt...and you know the rest!
That's eight birdies for our leader, and six bogeys with just three pars, what a rollercoaster of a round put together by someone leading the US Open!
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