👋 {{readername | Hey, golf fans}},

Shinnecock seems to be, in the words of a 14-time Grammy winner, "a nightmare dressed like a daydream.” The course was both forgiving and harsh on pros on Friday. In some cases it showed two sides in a span of a few holes. We dive into round two, including Wyndham Clark’s historic lead, DJ’s nightmare stretch, Rory’s painful miss, Higgs’s awesome putt, and more.

Oh, and yes, you guessed it correctly; that line was from Taylor Swift’s Blank Space.

Let’s get swinging…

Shinnecock, to doubly insist on the lyrics, lives in shades of gray. That ambiguity is integral to its identity; it’s why it’s always either almosts or what-ifs here. For example, what if the slopes were kinder to Xander Schauffele (-3/T2)? On the fifth hole, his third shot to the green was basically spat back by the slope, rolling further back from its original lie. He would’ve been solo second without that bogey.

But Xander got a taste of heaven, too. He’s finished inside the top 15 in all nine of his U.S. Open starts. In the past 80 years^[1], only Jack Nicklaus did it more times than him (12 straight). Xander made four birdies to sit four shots back of 36‑hole leader Wyndham Clark (‑7), who closed with three birdies in his last seven holes for a 69.

Clark’s 7‑under after the second round not only puts him ahead, but it’s also the biggest 36‑hole cushion at this U.S. Open in eight years^[1]. He says he’s aiming to bring his “A‑game” into the weekend, and Clark will definitely need that.

The USGA has warned Shinnecock will play firm over the final two rounds, and four contenders are just four strokes back.

Meanwhile, at 17 years and seven months, Miles Russell (+3/T46) became the second‑youngest player in eight decades to make the U.S. Open cut^[1]. Rory McIlroy (T11) and Scottie Scheffler (T11) sit at even par, but history shows six champions have rallied from seven shots back after 36 holes.

Not every big name fared so well. Bryson DeChambeau (+5) and Viktor Hovland (+5) missed the cut. So did Rickie Fowler (+5) and Si Woo Kim (+6).

^[1] Stats by Justin Ray.

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Catastrophe: The unraveling started for Dustin Johnson (+3/T46) on the 11th. His bunker shot rolled back to his feet, as you can see here. But the 15th was a nightmare. His approach found a greenside bunker. DJ hacked it, but guess where the ball ended up? We won’t spoil it for you; check it out below. He made a quad bogey.

Impossible: On the 11th, Harry Higgs (-1/T7) faced a 75-foot putt with a steep upslope. He whacked his putter, and the ball raced onto the green, slowed down, and then disappeared into the cup. The crowd went bonkers. The broadcasters went bonkers. So did we, and so would you when you watch it here.

Bummer: What is it with putts at the U.S. Open and Rory McIlroy (E/T11)? He carded two consecutive bogeys on the 10th and 11th and then faced a 19‑foot par putt on the 12th. It lipped out. Fans groaned. Rory was dismayed. Watch and tell us if you could have made this one at Shinnecock.

Dad duties: Brandon Holtz (+10/MC) has had his father, Jeff, carrying his bag for as long as he can remember. But what’s the downside of having your dad on the bag full-time? We can bet our $100 the answer will make you smile.

Unsung hero: Frank, a volunteer from North Carolina, woke up at 2 am to join his 4 am shift at Shinnecock. As part of the agronomy team, he’ll fix about 1,000 divots and make the course ready for moving day. Watch him at work here.

Elsewhere:

Last Poll Result: 60.41% of you said the USGA’s new rules would be enough to curb unruly behavior at tournaments. Check what your fellow readers have to say.

Wyndham Clark is on a mission to win the U.S. Open, but hardly for the reason most of us expect. He reveals the real motivation.

Collin Morikawa’s back has been giving him some grief. But after a rise at Shinnecock, he finally offers a health update.

Scottie Scheffler’s 2-over Thursday round not only put him out of contention for that day but also highlighted his appalling stat at the U.S. Open.

Worst: They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We found none in Viktor Hovland’s Friday look, and you will not either. Hovland sported a J. Lindeberg Devyn Striped Golf Pant. What is it? A Sysco uniform? Pajama pants? We have no clue. The black shoes and white polo only made it worse. If you can’t imagine the look, check out Viktor’s flapping pants in the video below.

But if you also noticed a black ribbon on his hat over the past two days, that was for a far more touching reason—check it out here.

Best: Tommy Fleetwood (+1/T22) sticks to a simple credo for dressing. Choose the finest pieces and let them do the talking. It never fails. In R2, he showed up in dark pleated trousers paired with a lighter polo—no visible logos—and the combo was as elegant as it could get. Reports say he was also wearing unreleased Sun Day Red Presidio golf shoes. Check it out here and watch him nail a tricky shot while you're at it.

Wondering what to munch or sip on during a round? Here are five suggestions from us.

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