PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on the second round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (all times local):
12:50 p.m.
Francesco Molinari’s momentum at the U.S. Open came to a halt when his second shot on No. 8 failed to clear the chasm between the fairway and the green.
After stepping gingerly down the slope to find the ball in an unplayable lie, Molinari took a ride in a golf cart back to the fairway to drop for a penalty shot.
The defending British Open champion made double bogey and fell back to 3-under par after a stretch of three birdies in eight holes had put him in a tie for second at Pebble Beach.
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12:15 p.m.
He didn’t lose the ball.
He did lose a stroke.
Justin Rose found the ball he hit over the cliff on the right side of the fourth fairway at the U.S. Open, but instead of playing from there, he chose to take a drop in the fairway with a penalty.
He hit that shot to 8 feet, but couldn’t convert the putt and ended up with a bogey.
Rose’s second bogey of the day sent him into the last five holes of the day at 7 under, two shots ahead of Aaron Wise, who shot 71, and a group of three, including Rickie Fowler, who are set to tee off later this afternoon.
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12:05 p.m.
It won’t be enough to make the cut, but Kodai Ichihara will always have a good memory from the U.S. Open.
Ichihara holed out from 199 yards for an eagle 2 on the par-4 second hole — the third toughest hole at Pebble Beach this week.
But the 2 only drew Ichihara to 9 over for the tournament, tied for 150th in the 156-man field.
It’s still early, but the projected cut is 1 over.
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11:45 a.m.
Jordan Spieth’s caddie might never hear the end of this one.
Playing out of a high-lipped fairway bunker on the second hole, Spieth barely got the ball over the lip, only to have it hit a rake and get knocked down.
“Oh, it hit the rake. Oh, there’s a rake there,” Spieth said. “Got over the lip and hit the rake.”
Caddie Michael Greller responded: “There is a rake there.”
Spieth saved bogey with a 5 and dropped to 1 under for the tournament.
On Thursday, Spieth laid into Greller for suggesting the wrong club on a couple of shots.
Producers on the Fox telecast have taken to putting “Caddie: Michael Greller” on the graphic when they flash Spieth’s score before he hits a shot.
Caddies are responsible for raking bunkers, though clearly neither Spieth nor Greller could see the rake on No. 2, which was buried in deep fescue grass on the top.
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10:50 a.m.
More red numbers but still the same leader as Justin Rose makes the turn in the second round of the U.S. Open.
Rose made a birdie from the greenside bunker on the 18th hole to get to 8 under, three shots ahead of a group of four players, including Rickie Fowler who had an afternoon tee time.
The first-round leader played the back nine first, shooting 2 under to expand his lead. Playing with him was Tiger Woods, who was 1 under on the day and 2 under for the tournament.
Former champion Jordan Spieth, playing in the same group, shot a 3-under 33 on the back nine to move to 2 under.
Conditions at Pebble Beach were ideal, with light winds and overcast skies. There were 39 players under par.
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9:55 a.m.
Justin Rose has made it through his opening five holes with all pars, including two tough saves, and remains in the lead at the US Open.
On a cool, overcast day with condensation that feels like a light mist, no one is off a blazing start. Tiger Woods has one birdie and no trouble. He was four shots behind.
Jordan Spieth birdied three of his first four holes to get within four shots, only to miss the green on the par-5 14th to take bogey.
Two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka was even for the day through six holes and was four behind.
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9:15 a.m.
Jordan Spieth is making some noise, trying to get back in the mix at the U.S. Open.
Spieth birdied three of his first four holes Friday to move under par at Pebble Beach. He is still four strokes back of leader Justin Rose, who is even par through his first four holes.
Playing with both former Open champions is Tiger Woods, who is 1 under for the day and 2 under for the tournament.
Second round play began in cool temperatures under overcast skies and players were taking advantage of the soft greens at Pebble Beach.
Also in the mix early is Matt Kuchar, who is 2 under for the day and two shots back of Rose, who shot 65 on Thursday to lead after the first round.
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8 a.m.
Viktor Hovland of Norway loves Pebble Beach.
Hovland won the U.S. Amateur last summer at Pebble Beach, and he had the low score among 16 amateurs in the field Thursday with a 2-under 69. Two other amateurs broke par in the opening round — U.S. Junior winner Michael Thorbjornsen and British Amateur champion Jevon Rebula.
This will be Hovland’s final event without getting paid. He is leaving Oklahoma State to turn pro and will make his debut next week at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Hovland starts his second round Friday morning with two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka and British Open champion Francesco Molinari.
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7 a.m.
A dry forecast for the U.S. Open doesn’t mean dry conditions at Pebble Beach.
The second round began Friday morning with low clouds off the Pacific Ocean and what felt like a light mist, which is sure to keep the golf course from getting overly firm.
Justin Rose tries to build on his record-tying 65 from the first round that gave him a one-shot lead. He played in the morning alongside Tiger Woods, who was five shots behind. Brooks Koepka opened with a 69. He also plays in the morning wave of the second round.
The cut is made Friday to the low 60s and ties. Among those playing later and hopeful of a low score is Phil Mickelson, who needs only the U.S. Open title to complete the career Grand Slam.
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