Frustration for Bob MacIntyre in US Open as cruel break sparks second round stumble

Over two testing days on a tough golf course, the Oban man had battled as well as he probably has in any major, bouncing back just about every time after he’d dropped shots. With four holes to play in the second round, he was level par and, even though Wyndham Clark had set a blistering pace by reaching the halfway stage on seven under, that would have left MacIntyre handily-placed heading into the weekend.

Golf can be a cruel game, though. It looked as though the 29-year-old had struck a peach of a second shot with a hybrid at the par-4 sixth - his 15th hole of the day. But, after landing on the putting surface, it took a left turn and ended up in a bunker, from where he failed to get up and down.

As was the case at the par-3 seventh, where it actually looks almost impossible to find the putting surface due to it sloping steeply from right to left. It was the first time over two days that he’d taken two bogeys in a row. Making matters worse, he then ran up a double-bogey 6 at the eighth after being in two bunkers.

After signing off with a par, MacIntyre signed for 74. Earlier, he’d completed his unfinished opening round, which we’ll come back to, in style by almost holing his approach at the 18th to card a 70. With the two rounds combined leaving him on four over, MacIntyre found himself in a sweat before making it through to the weekend right on the mark. After missing the cut in the opening two majors this season, that was the first target this week.

MacIntyre refused media request

Last year’s runner-up at Oakmont, though, has very high standards indeed these days. He was in a position to feel he could get close to the leaders over the weekend. Even if he made the cut, that is now unlikely, though, and that’s why he was fizzing. To the extent, in fact, that he declined a request from a USGA media official to talk to the media afterwards. Which, in fairness, is not like him.

He’d certainly have spoken about finishing his first round with a peach of a birdie if it hadn’t been for unusual circumstances. Due to a two-hour fog delay on Thursday, MacIntyre only managed to play 15 holes, returning for a 6.35am restart on Friday to complete his circuit.

Having been three-over arriving on the 11th tee, he’d have been absolutely delighted to eventually get finished on level par. That was down to him showing his battling qualities and he was still riding the punches in the second round. On a couple of occasions, he quickly repaired damage caused by bogeys. He’d just made a fourth birdie of the round at the par-5 fifth and had his tail up until that torrid three-hole stretch.

It probably wouldn’t make him feel any better, but former winner Jon Rahm won’t be around for the weekend and neither will two more of MacIntyre’s Ryder Cup team-mates, Shane Lowry and Viktor Hovland. Oh, and add Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed and Adam Scott, who was making his 100th consecutive major appearance this week, to that list as well.

Clark, the 2023 winner, followed an opening 64 with a 69 to sit on seven under and hold a four-shot lead. A birdie at the last saw him post the best-ever 36-hole score in a US Open at this event. The previous best mark had been six under, set by Shigeki Maruyama and Phil Mickelson in 2004.

“I really felt like I could be in double digits,” admitted Clark, who illuminated his opening effort with an eagle at the fifth. “But, you know, the great thing about that is I didn't feel like I had my best, and I still am leading as of right now. Hopefully I can bring my A-game on the weekend.”

He was off to get some sleep and also watch the US take on Australia in the World Cup. “Yeah, I'm tired,” he said of also being among the 50 players who had to return to complete their opening circuit. Didn't get to bed until 10:30. Had to wake up at 4:00. So not much sleep. I'm going to really be looking forward to a nap and watching USA hopefully win a game.”

Matt Fitzpatrick, Clark’s closest challenger in the clubhouse on three under, is also a US Open specialist, having landed the title in 2022. The Englishman came into this edition in red-hot form, having won three times, one with his brother Alex, on the PGA Tour this year, and looks to be in the mood as he bids to make it back-to-back major successes for English players following Aaron Rai’s PGA Championship victory at Aronimink last month.

“Struggled a little bit off the tee on the back nine, but overall scrambled incredibly well to be where I am,” said Fitzpatrick, who started his second round with ten straight pars then dropped shots at the 11th and 12th before repairing that spillage with two birdies in the last three holes.

It might have been seen as something of a surprise when the Sheffield man got his hands on this trophy at Brookline but there would be no eyebrows raised at all if he picked it up again on Sunday.

“Yeah, it will be interesting to see what they do,” replied Fitzpatrick to being asked about his gameplan for the weekend, with strong winds forecast for Saturday. “I know they're a little bit wary of the forecast tomorrow. I can't see it drying out too much. I think with how humid it is as well, it's going to only keep it soft. I think greens will be similar reception-wise, but obviously pin placements, weather conditions will be interesting.”

As two-time champion Bryson DeChambeau faced a sweat to avoid a third missed major cut this year after running up back-to-back double-bogey 6s, former Open champions Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele, with rounds of 65 and 66 respectively for two-under totals, were both lurking ominously on the Long Island leaderboard.

After an up-and-down 71 for a one-over total, Rory McIlroy sits T11 alongside world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is chasing a win that would see him complete a career grand slam.