Day 2 at Erin Hills
Keep that card
Hideki Matsuyama: While it was a bad Friday for the top three in the World Golf Ranking, it was pretty good for No. 4. The 25-year-old from Japan shot a 65 in a round that featured six birdies on the first eight holes. Chez Reavie also shot 65 on Friday, joining Rickie Fowler's 65 from Thursday.
Toss that card
Derek Barron: Barron, of Tacoma, Wash., didn't pick up golf until he was 17. Now 32, he is a rookie on the Canadian tour, and he has been keeping a diary of his U.S. Open experience on the USGA's website. He shot a 2-under 70 in Round 1 but came crashing down Friday with an 83. "With as good as everything went on Thursday, it was completely the opposite on Friday," he wrote.
On the course with …
Troy Merritt: The lone Minnesota connection in the U.S. Open matched his first-round score with another 74 and missed the cut. The Spring Lake Park product had moved to 2 under on the day with a birdie at the par-5 14th but finished the last four holes in 4 over to turn an excellent round into a disappointment. "You finish bogey, par, bogey, double, you probably don't deserve to make the cut," he said. "Nevertheless, there was a lot of progress this week."
U.S. Open moment
It was another warm, dry day at Erin Hills, making the course more challenging with each passing minute. Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who shot a 1-under 71, said: "I think the greens are getting U.S. Open-like, but not as firm as they're going to get if we don't get any rain. But I think definitely getting a lot speedier, a lot faster."
Chip shots
• Cameron Champ, 22, blasted his way to a 69, drawing attention for his long drives and steady putting. No amateur has won the Open since Johnny Goodman in 1933. Champ, a senior at Texas A&M, recorded four birdies and one bogey over his final seven holes.
• Wisconsin native Steve Stricker made the cut at 1 over, with rounds of 73 and 72. The 50-year-old has made the cut in each of his past 24 major championships dating to the 2010 Masters. "I still feel like I've got a lot of good golf in me," he said.
• Danny Willett withdrew because of a back injury. The 2016 Masters winner has had recurring back issues in his career and shot a 9-over 81 in the first round.
Key hole
Par-5, 603-yard No. 14: A par-5 playing above par (5.19 average Friday) is an oddity. So was Paul Casey using five shots from behind the green and making a snowman.
Quote of the day
"Guess what? We get to go home today because Daddy played poorly."
— Jason Day to his 4-year-old son, Dash, after the No. 3 golfer in the world went 79-75 after finishing in the top 10 each of the previous four U.S. Opens.
Tweet of the day
"If you'd told me at the beginning of the week that my +2 would miss the cut I'd slap you."
— Web.com veteran Kyle Thompson (@KyleThompsonPGA), who shot 76-70 to miss out on the weekend.
Day 3
It figures to be an interesting moving day, with some big names and some who-are-theys near the top. The only past major champions in the top 20 are Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer, and they are tied for 19th. Nine hours of television coverage from Erin Hills begins on Ch. 9 at 10 a.m.
