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SPORTS Saturday 15 June 2019

U.S. Open

Continued from Page 17

Outside of his lone birdie
from 10 feet on No. 11, he
didn’t make a putt longer
than 5 feet.
Two-time defending cham-
pion Brooks Koepka started
slowly and finished with two
late birdies for another 69.
He was three shots behind
in his bid to match a 114-
year record with a third
straight U.S. Open title.
Rose was at 7-under 135 as
Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler
and others played in the
afternoon.
“At this point, there’s not a
lot to worry about,” Rose
said. “If you’re one ahead,
one behind, it’s a lot of
golf to be played. But it’s
the perfect spot after two
days.” For a short time, it
looked as though it might
be even better.
Conditions were roughly Gary Woodland watches his putt on the sixth hole during the second round of the U.S. Open Championship golf tournament Friday,
the same as the first round, June 14, 2019, in Pebble Beach, Calif.
with very little wind and Associated Press
cool clouds so thick that into the ice plant. Rosey ... that’s the best From 162 yards, he hit to 8 though he made much fun
condensation felt like a “I felt like the third hole, I I’ve seen somebody get feet and made the putt to at all.
light mist. Rose started slow- lost a bit of momentum,” up-and-down around the escape with bogey. He talked about leaving
ly, even dropped his put- Rose said. “Great oppor- golf course for two rounds, Koepka, meanwhile, was the ball above the hole all
ter when a 12-foot birdie tunity there. Was definitely maybe ever.” lurking. He was even for his round, though it really was
chance brazed the edge a birdie opportunity, and That’s high praise from Spi- round until reaching the the last two holes that ir-
of the cup, his fifth straight then laid up in the hazard eth, who has had his share front of the green on the ritated him so much. Five
par to start the round. on No. 4. A bit of lapse of of short-game exhibitions. par-5 sixth for a two-putt shots behind, just were he
He reached 8 under for the concentration there.” Spieth had a remarkable birdie, and then he went started, he closed with two
tournament with a bold But he didn’t overlook the bogey for the second after a back pin on the bogeys for a 72. Woods
7-iron into 3 feet for birdie good, and there was plen- straight day. After hitting 109-yard seventh hole for a came up short on the par-4
on the par-4 second. He ty of that, especially for over the cliff and into the 4-foot birdie. 18th and hit a flop shot to
was four shots ahead, and par. The biggest two were ocean on No. 8 and then “I feel great. I’m excited. about 20 feet, leading to
his tee shot on No. 3 left him his final two holes, when saving par from deep I’ve got a chance. That’s all bogey. He had a chance
just 85 yards away from a Rose got up-and-down rough behind the green in you can ask for,” Koepka to save par after a drive
front pin. from choppy rough short the opening round, he was said. “I just need to make into the bunker on No. 9,
And that’s when it turned. of the eighth green, and in real trouble at the par- a few putts. Sometimes the only to miss that.
Rose came up short of the 50-foot lag up the slope 4 second. From a fairway hole just needs to open up. It was a fitting end. He
green and had to scramble on the ninth green to end bunker, his ball hit a rake If I can get off to a good missed just about every-
for par. Then, he was torn on a good note. “I made that wasn’t seen in the high start tomorrow, have that thing else in the second
between driver or an iron up one shot on the lead,” grass. It bounced in the air feeling where the hole’s round.
off the fourth tee, never got Jordan Spieth said after and was buried in grass opening up, it could be a “Not a very good finish,” he
settled and hit his iron over his seven-birdie round of so thick Spieth could only fun round.” said, adding later that he
the edge of the cliff and 69. “It felt like more, but hack out. Woods didn’t look as was still in the game.q