Ludwig Aberg takes one-shot lead as Scottie Scheffler struggles

Swede Ludwig Aberg fought his way to a one-shot lead after the second round of the US Open on Friday, while top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and other favorites struggled to punish Pinehurst.

Sixth-ranked Aberg, a finalist at April’s Masters in his major debut, shot a one-under par 69 to finish 36 holes at five-under 135.

“I hit it really well,” Aberg said. “It was obviously very difficult, and it’s not an easy golf course to play. But I felt like we stayed very disciplined, very patient and tried to achieve our goals.

He shared the lead with Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, but the back-nine starter closed his round with bogeys at eight and a par-3 at the ninth to shoot 70 and share fifth place.

“Very fortunate with the way things have gone the last few days, and I hope we can continue this momentum,” Aberg said.

2020 US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, fellow American Patrick Cantlay and Belgian Thomas Detry were adrift in second.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, seeking his first major triumph in 10 years, shot 72 to share fifth place with American Tony Finau and Pavon, 24th of 137, and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, 2021 Masters champion, finished eighth on 138 after a bogey. -free 66.

Pre-tournament favorite Scheffler managed to narrow it down to five-over 145 after shooting 74 in the first birdieless major round of his career.

The two-time Masters champion was defeated by bogeys at the par-3 15th and 17th and by a double bogey at the par-5 fifth.

“It was definitely a chore,” Scheffler said. “I’m proud of the way I fought. I gave myself a good chance. Today I just couldn’t knock the putts down.

“This golf course can be unpredictable at times, and maybe that’s gotten the better of me the last few days.”

Aberg, 24, made a 30-foot birdie on the second hole and an 11-foot birdie on the par-5 fifth to take the lead.

He responded to a bogey at eight with a birdie at 12, but found a greenside bunker at 16 for another bogey only to trip up Pavon late.

Pavon won in January at Torrey Pines to become the first Frenchman since 1907 to win a US PGA Tour event. He said his victory would boost French golf.

“It would mean everything. That would be huge,” Pavon said. “Having someone capable of lifting the trophy like that would be very important for me and for my country.”

DeChambeau made five birdies and four bogeys with one birdie at 18, keeping him firmly in the hunt.

“I was very happy with how I stayed patient, gave myself good opportunities when it counted and made a lot of clutch putts,” DeChambeau said.

Detry, ranked 55th, matched his best finish on the PGA Tour with a second-place finish at the Houston Open in March.

The 31-year-old Belgian achieved his best major result last month with a fourth-place finish at the PGA Championship.

“My confidence is good. My game is good. I also feel mentally stable,” Detry said. “I think it’s going to be a fun challenge.”

Cantlay shared the 18-hole lead with McIlroy after a 65.

“It was a lot firmer than yesterday,” Cantlay said. “It’s going to be a challenge for the rest of the weekend.”

– The tiger misses the cut –
McIlroy closed with a bogey at the ninth. He also had bogeys at the 11th and the par-3 15th against a solitary birdie at the third.

“You had to be smart,” McIlroy said. “I would have liked to convert a few more chances. Overall, I’m still in an excellent position for the weekend.

The four-time major winner from Northern Ireland played alongside Scheffler and runner-up Xander Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship last month.

Schauffele was four points off the lead after shooting 69 to stand at 139.

Matsuyama hopes to continue his momentum.

“I was playing really, really well,” he said through a translator. “My short game was there. It really helped. Hopefully I can keep this momentum going throughout the weekend.

Tiger Woods, 15-time major winner, missed the cut with 147 after a 73 on Friday.

“Probably the highest score I could have had today,” Woods said. “Frustrating, I’m not here for the weekend. »

Others absent include Viktor Hovland, fifth, and Max Homa, 10th.