US Open: Ewen Murray reviews best of second round at Shinnecock Hills
Saturday 16 June 2018 07:20, UK
Ewen Murray review Rory McIlroy's early exit from the US Open and looks back at the key talking points from the second round at Shinnecock Hills.
I enjoyed Friday much more than the opening round. I think the majority of people like to see a difficult test, but I think they want to see birdies and hear the noise making atmosphere.
The pin positions were fairly sensible, so we saw far more players under par and I think that was nice to see a few more birdies after Thursday's war of attrition. We also saw the odd golfing disaster.
It's a long way from being over, but Dustin Johnson's really starting to show why he's the world No 1. A win last week in Memphis has been followed in Long Island with rounds of 69 and 67.
Johnson will be thrilled with his first two days, because he only found 21 greens in regulation but has demonstrated an outstanding short game.
I thought Ian Poulter was magnificent over the first 16 holes with very clever play and good course management, but I was sad to see the way he finished.
It was strange for him to make the mistake at his 17th, the eighth, as that was one pin you could not take on and nobody did. Maybe it was just a loose shot and he wasn't trying to take it on, but he certainly paid the penalty for that triple-bogey.
It was a case of too little, too late for Rory McIlroy, who finished strongly and came home in 31. Butch Harmon made a very good point in commentary that McIlroy needs to start playing golf and not worrying about how you play the game.
He is one of the most natural players in the world, but this week every part of his game seemed to be wrong. The damage was done with Thursday's opening round and although he was 10 better on Friday, it means he misses the cut.
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He has to turn his attention now to the rest of the year and the final two majors at Carnoustie and Bellerive to come, so there's still plenty of time to turn his season into a decent one.
Still to come...
You've got some pairings to look forward to on Saturday and plenty of us to enjoy. Our leader Johnson goes out with Scott Piercy, who finished first and second in this event two years ago,
We've got Charley Hoffman with Tommy Fleetwood, who skipped around in 66 and just seems to get better every single week and is playing with a lot of confidence.
Henrik Stenson could be a dangerman after steady rounds of 71 and 70, with the Swede playing alongside Justin Rose, who had his problems late in his round after a terrific display of iron play.
Johnson was six clear going into the final round of the WGC-HSBC Champions last year when Rose came back from eight back to win, whereas we still have 36 holes to go this time out.
Watch the US Open throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Saturday from 4.30pm live on Sky Sports US Open.
