US Open Golf: Frustrated Scottie Scheffler Throws and Slams Clubs, Manages to Advance to Weekend; Ludvig Aberg Maintains Lead
After exerting a tight grip on the golfing world with an unyielding calmness for several months, the world's top golfer's unwavering Excellence came crashing down during the second round of the 124th US Open on Friday.
Scheffler's string of 168 rounds with at least one birdie slid off the slippery greens of Pinehurst's treacherous, hard, and swift greens as he struggled to a four-over par 74, extending an opening 71.
"Yesterday, I thought I played great. Today, I just couldn't sink the putts," Scheffler reportedly said to the media after his round.
"This golf course can be unpredictable at times, and it seems like it got the better of me the last couple days. I'll take a seat and ponder over what happened in the last few days and sort it out."
The impact of those two days on Scheffler's aspiration of a sixth win in nine starts was almost insignificant: at five-over overall, the tournament favorite, who was predicted to win, entered the clubhouse admitting he was unlikely to return for the final 36 holes.
By the tiniest of margins, Scheffler narrowly avoided missing the weekend at a major for the first time since 2022 as another day filled with high scores lowered the cut line to five-over par, allowing Scheffler and several other relieved stars to continue in the competition.
'Perhaps the worst golf shot I think I've ever seen you hit'
It wasn't a moment of peace after a morning brimming with frustration for the typically composed Texan.
Starting from the 10th tee, Scheffler threw his putter into the air in fury after his par-saving attempt at the 15th hole swerved away at the end, resulting in his first bogey of the day.
When his opening drive at the 17th veered left, Scheffler murmured to himself in the second person: "Perhaps the worst golf shot I think I've ever seen you hit."
After a similar outcome at the subsequent tee box, he angrily slammed his driver on the ground before picking up his tee and chucking it.
Despite those mistakes, Scheffler generally drove well throughout but struggled on and around the greens, reaching a low point during a disastrous double bogey at the par-five fifth hole. His third shot was an attempted chip onto the green from the native area that gained him mere inches, as his ball caught a slope and rolled back to his feet.
Scheffler's subsequent effort moved him further away from the hole, skipping past the flag and over the other side of the green. There was still a bit more salt to be rubbed into the wound, as Scheffler's putt to escape with a bogey fell short by four inches.
Incredibly, Scheffler's playing partner and last month's PGA Championship victor Xander Schauffele experienced a near identical series of unfortunate events for a double bogey of his own, his ball rolling back to him before skidding far past the cup on the next attempt.
The world No. 2 voiced his frustration candidly after returning to the clubhouse.
"That pissed me off," Schauffele, who shot one-under 69 and reached a share of ninth at an overall score of one-under, told reporters.
Aberg moves into the lead
Though Schauffele remains in contention, Scheffler now trails Sweden's Ludvig Aberg by ten strokes, as Aberg leads the leaderboard with a score of five-under par overall after shooting 69.
The 24-year-old has risen rapidly and continues to impress in his initial US Open appearance and just his third career major outing, having finished second on his Masters debut in April.
"It's not something I think about all the time, but sometimes I need to sit down for a moment and reflect on how fortunate I am to be able to do this at this level," world No. 6 Aberg told reporters.
"To be able to play in these tournaments, to play with the guys I've watched on TV for so long, it's like a dream come true."
Belgium's Thomas Detry, along with American pair Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay, occupy the chasing pack, with Rory McIlroy – hunting for his fifth major title – a stroke behind the trio.
Woods remains uncertain about future appearances
A contingent of top players missed the cut line, including two members of the world's top ten. Viktor Hovland and Max Homa narrowly missed out at six-under overall, while three-time champion Tiger Woods finished just one shot behind the duo.
Woods played due to a special exemption after failing to qualify for a major for the first time in his professional career, but the 48-year-old demonstrated glimpses of his former brilliance as he shot 74 and 73.
The 15-time major champion qualified for the weekend at the Masters in April but has now missed consecutive major cuts after fading at the PGA Championship last month.
He is eligible to play at next month's Open Championship in Scotland due to his status as a previous winner but, when asked by CNN's Patrick Snell if he might have played his final US Open, Woods cast doubt on his future at both open tournaments.
“As for my final Open Championship or US Open Championship, I don't know,” Woods told Snell. “My ball-striking and putting felt good enough to contend, and I'm not."
“It's frustrating because I'm not here to have a chance to win on the weekend.”
