Erin: World No. 1 Dustin Johnson led an unprecedented exodus of big guns at the 117th US Open on Friday as four players grabbed a share of the lead at the halfway stage.
American favourite Johnson crashed out after he could only card a one-over-par 73, which left him four over for the tournament at the sprawling Erin Hills course in rural Wisconsin.
Johnson’s exit came after world No. 2 Rory McIlroy and world No. 3 Jason Day also missed the cut after disappointing rounds.
It was the first time since the rankings system was launched in April 1989 that the world’s top three players have all failed to make the third round of a major.
Johnson, who had bullishly expected to do well on a course he believed to be perfectly suited to his game, admitted he was surprised to be out after only 36 holes.
“I felt this is a golf course sets up really well for me, especially if I’m driving it like I did today,” Johnson said.
“If you look at the golf course and you even talk to me, Jason or Rory, this course sets up perfect for us.”
With Johnson, McIlroy and Day all missing from the weekend action, all eyes will be on a clustered leaderboard which is dominated by players who have never won a major.
England’s Paul Casey and compatriot Tommy Fleetwood were bunched on seven under alongside Americans Brooks Koepka and Brian Harman at the top.
Behind the leading quartet, a logjam grouped eight players within two shots of the lead.
Jamie Lovemark, Rickie Fowler and J.B. Holmes featured in a three-way tie at six under.
South Korea’s Kim Si-Woo and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama were among five players on five under, which also included amateur Cameron Champ.
Casey took his place among the leading group after recovering from an early implosion that sent him plunging down the leaderboard.
Casey, who had shot a six-under-par 66 on Thursday, came unstuck with a disastrous triple-bogey eight on the 14th after teeing off on the 10th hole.
However the 39-year-old world number 14 unfurled a sequence of five straight birdies to haul himself back up the leaderboard, carding a one-under-par 71 to finish the day at seven under.
“Not every day you enjoy a round of golf with an eight on the card, but I’m a pretty happy man,” Casey said. “It was a bit of a roller coaster.”
But while Casey was relieved after his gutsy fightback, it was back t the drawing board for McIlroy and Day after their disappointing exits.
Day, needing a miracle to get back into contention after his opening 79 carded a three-over-par 75, leaving him 10 over.
“I was in the hay too much over the last couple of days,” Day said.
“It’s been the best preparation going into a major, I felt like, in my career, which is playing in majors and knowing what I needed to do to prep for a tournament such as this,” Day said. “It’s pretty frustrating.”
Johnson later said he plans to take some time off with his family as he struggles to digest his US Open flop.
“This is the United States Open. It’s a major, it means a lot to me,” Johnson said.
“I’m definitely disappointed I’m not playing the weekend, but there is a lot I can take out of it.
“I feel like I’m striking it very well. So I just need to go home, relax a little bit, hang out with the family and I’ll see you at the Open Championship in a month.”
Johnson, who had struggled to a three-over-par 75 in the first round, carded three birdies and four bogeys in a one-over-par 73.
Leading Scores
-7 Paul Casey (Britain) 66 71
Brian Harman (US) 67 70
Tommy Fleetwood (Britain) 67 70
Brooks Koepka (US) 67 70/s
-6 Jamie Lovemark (US) 69 69
Rickie Fowler (US) 65 73
J.B. Holmes (US) 69 69/s
-5 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 74 65
Brandt Snedeker (US) 70 69
Xander Schauffele (US) 66 73
Cameron Champ (US) 70 69
Kim Si Woo (Korea) 69 70/s
-4 Marc Leishman (Australia) 68 72
Brendan Steele (US) 71 69
Harris English (US) 71 69
Bill Haas (US) 72 68
Chez Reavie (US) 75 65
Charley Hoffman (US) 70 70/s
