SAN DIEGO – Matthew Wolff toured venerable Winged Foot in 65 in the third round of the 2020 U.S. Open and shot 68 on Friday at Torrey Pines to climb into contention at the 121st U.S. Open. And yet even the 22-year-old said he felt drained after Round 2 with golf’s toughest examination.
“The way I describe the U.S. Open to everyone,” he said, “is there’s not one shot that you can finally like breathe and relax and feel like, oh, it’s all right if I miss this a little bit because every single shot, every single putt, it takes all your attention.”
Russell Henley, co-leader after 36 holes, can relate. Despite shooting 79 in his only previous appearance here seven years ago at the Farmers Insurance Open, he had played 17 bogey-free holes around the South Course on Friday before he took three putts at his last hole of the day, No. 9, missing a 2-foot par putt that would have given him the outright lead.
“Just hang in and grind,” said Henley of his game plan for the weekend. “That’s what you’ve got to do around here.”
Instead, he settled for shooting 1-under 70 for a 36-hole aggregate of 5-under 139 and tied Englishman Richard Bland, a 48-year-old journeyman, who posted a second-round 67 and became the oldest 36-hole co-leader of the U.S. Open since World War II.
Henley and Bland have plenty of company behind them. Wolff, who hasn’t played since the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in late April as he has been dealing with mental health concerns, finds himself one stroke back of the lead and tied for third with Louis Oosthuizen (71). Count Wolff among those surprised that he’s in this position heading into the weekend.
“My confidence was shot,” he said. “I’d say I came here with very, very – I’d say no expectations. I’d say my expectations coming here were to enjoy it and be happy, and I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to do that. Thankfully I am, as well as playing well.”
Former Masters champion Bubba Watson (67) and World No. 3 Jon Rahm (70) are tied for fifth at 3-under 139.
San Diego native Xander Schauffele (71) is among a trio of players at 2-under 140. Scottie Scheffler headlines those at 1-under 141.
Among the host of major champions at even-par 142 are defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Brook Koepka and Collin Morikawa, who bounced back with 67. All told, 12 players are under par through 36 holes and another eight are at even.
“It’s a great spot and I’m out here to win,” Morikawa said.
Rory McIlroy shared a similar view that he remained in striking distance heading into the weekend despite backing up with a 2-over 73.
“Even though Richard Bland’s up there at 5 under (along with Henley), 1-over is right in it,” he said. “So, yeah, in for the weekend and still feel like I’ve got a really good chance.”
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson (73) straddled the cutline during his round but fought back to make the cut and is at 2-over along with reigning PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson (69), who said he played much better on Friday.
“Even though I didn’t make a run today, I’m playing well enough to make a run,” Mickelson said.
Of the 19 golfers who made it to Torrey Pines via local and final qualifying, only Air Force Academy graduate Kyle Westmoreland (2-over 144) made the cut.
It took 4-over 146 to survive the 36-hole cut. Jordan Spieth is among the 71 professionals who’ll play the weekend after rallying to make it on the number with a 69. For the first time since 2007, no amateurs made the cut. Andrew Kozan, a recent Auburn University graduate, missed a 4-foot par putt at No. 18 to miss the cut by a stroke. Edoardo Molinari backed up with a 76 on Friday, but survived the cut on the number and trails his brother, Francesco (76), by two strokes. They became the first brothers to make the cut in the same U.S. Open since Joe and Jumbo Ozaki in 1993. The other brother duo in this year’s field, Alvaro and Carlos Ortiz, both missed the cut.
Neither Henley nor Bland, who will be paired in the final group on Saturday at 1:35 p.m. local time, have any experience contending in a major. When they exchange cards on the first tee, it likely will be the first time they’ve ever met.
“I know he won earlier this year. It might have been his first win on the European Tour,” Henley said of Bland. “Other than that, I don’t. I’m sure he knows nothing about me too.”
