Best Shots & Moments from U.S. Open Round 2
Man, what a day. Oakmont didn’t hold back—Round 2 had everything. Drama, insane shots, and a leaderboard that kept flipping like a pancake. If you missed it, don’t worry. Let’s break it down like we’re chatting over chai.
Top 5 Shots That Made Everyone Lose Their Minds
Jason Day’s Hole-in-One (Because, Obviously)
Player: Jason Day | Hole: Par-3 16th
Okay, so picture this: 7-iron, perfect swing, ball just floats over the bunker like it’s got wings. Drops soft, rolls straight in. Crowd goes nuts. Day’s first ace in a major—and honestly? Timing couldn’t be better. His reaction? Classic: “I just trusted the swing. Sometimes it all clicks.” Understatement of the year.
Lydia Ko’s “How Did She Do That?” Bunker Shot
Player: Lydia Ko | Situation: Buried in the sand on Hole 8
Her ball was basically underground. No joke. But Ko? Takes a 60-degree wedge, swings like she’s brushing off dust, and lands it inches from the pin. The commentators lost it. That’s the thing about Oakmont—you think you’re doomed, then someone pulls off magic.
Rory’s Putt That Saved His Round
Player: Rory McIlroy | Putt: 25-footer on 18
Needed this to stay in the hunt. Double-break, tricky as hell. But Rory reads it like a bedtime story, sinks it, and fist-pumps like he’s 22 again. That’s why majors are different—pressure turns great players into legends.
Bryson’s “I’ll Just Drive the Green, Thanks” Moment
Player: Bryson DeChambeau | Yardage: 387 yards on Hole 12
Dude smashed it so far, he had a wedge left on a par-5. Insane. Love him or hate him, his “bomb-and-gouge” thing works. Old-school fans grumble, but numbers don’t lie.
Nelly Korda’s Pin-Seeking Missile
Player: Nelly Korda | Club: 9-iron from 142 yards
High, soft, stops 18 inches from the cup. Tap-in birdie. Oakmont’s greens are like putting on marble, but Korda made it look easy. She’s on fire—watch out.
Biggest Takeaways from Round 2
Leaderboard Whiplash
Scottie Scheffler started strong, then—bam—+2 on the back nine. Meanwhile, Tom Kim goes on a birdie spree. Golf’s funny like that. One minute you’re cruising, next you’re scrambling.
Wind? More Like a Nightmare
20 mph gusts wrecked some rookies (three quit mid-round, yikes). But Justin Rose? Played it like a pro. NBC’s guy said he “played the wind like a fiddle.” Poetic, but true.
Drama Off the Fairway
Some guy argued his ball was embedded on Hole 7. Crowd booed, USGA said no. Then Spieth almost aced 14—lipped out. His reaction? “Golf’s cruel.” Tell us something new, Jordan.
Who Stole the Show?
Collin Morikawa: Iron Man
Shot 68, hit 15/18 greens. His 5-iron on 17? Four feet from the pin. Paul Azinger tweeted “That’s major-champion stuff.” No argument here.
Dark Horse Alert: Min Woo Lee
Aussie kid’s putting is ridiculous (1.5 strokes gained). Question is, can he handle Saturday pressure? I’m leaning yes.
Phil vs. The New Kid
Mickelson’s short game edged out Ludvig Åberg, but the Swede’s power is scary. Future’s bright for that guy.
What’s Coming in Round 3?
Course’s Revenge
Pins tucked left on 1, 9, and 18. Rough’s thicker than wet cement, according to one caddie. Precision over power, folks.
Players to Watch
Scheffler’s putting still shaky. Morikawa’s irons? Unreal. And Korda—she’s playing like she owns the place.
Must-See Pairings
2:15 PM ET: McIlroy-DeChambeau (guaranteed fireworks). 10:30 AM ET: Kim-Lee (young guns going at it).
Final Thoughts
Day’s ace, Morikawa’s clinic, Ko’s magic—Round 2 delivered. What was your favorite moment? Hit me up. And don’t miss Saturday—Oakmont’s about to separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Relive the madness here. Tag your picks #USOpenMagic!
Source: ESPN – News
