US Open: Bryson DeChambeau very happy with work so far at Winged Foot

But former Masters champion Patrick Reed leads by a shot at halfway stage

Bryson DeChambeau plays a shot at the 12th. Picture: Charles Krupa/AP

It isn’t always a good thing seeing Bryson DeChambeau on a practice range at a major as darkness is descending. It was painful viewing, after all, to see his meltdown at Carnoustie two years ago after a tough day at the office in the Open Championship.

Apparently, the eccentric American was the last player left on the range at Winged Foot after the opening round of the 120th US Open on Thursday, but the men in white coats were not lurking in the wings on this occasion.

DeChambeau was happy enough with his opening 69 in the season’s second major. It left him handily-placed at the Mamaroneck venue. He’s a perfectionist, though, and something needed attention before his head hit the pillow.

“My wedges yesterday weren’t that good,” he said after adding a second-round 68 to sit on three-under, one shot off the lead, held by compatriot Patrick Reed, at the halfway stage as Winged Foot bit back in breezy conditions after 21 players broke par on day one compared to just one on the event’s last visit in 2006.

“I was flying them too far and I wanted to know what the problem was and we figured out what the problem was. We just didn’t calibrate correctly, so I was flying my wedges 10 yards long. We didn’t practice them as well as I should have leading up to this tournament, but we made that adjustment, and it worked out beautifully for me today.”

After using the Covid-19 lockdown to turn himself into golf’s “Incredible Bulk”, the 27-year-old has suddenly shown he has the game to contend in majors. His tie for fourth in last month’s US PGA Championship in San Francisco was easily his best effort so far in the game’s showpiece events and this week’s work has been hugely impressive so far.

“I felt like a lot of things were working well for me,” said DeChambeau of a second-day effort that had already delivered five birdies before hitting his approach from 178 yards at the ninth - his last - to just over six feet and confidently rolling in the putt.

“I was driving it well. My iron play was impeccable. When I was in the fairway, I was able to attack and take advantage, and finished really well today. I hit a great drive on 6, great drive on 8, great shot on 7, and a great drive on 9 that just set me up to be able to attack that flag today, and that was a fun way to finish off at a US Open so far. I feel great. Confidence is at an all-time high right now, I’m putting it like I know I can. So very happy.”

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, with a 69, was the only other player to break par on day two, with just six players now in red figures, led by former Masters champion Reed after splendid opening efforts of 66-70.

“I felt like I left a decent amount of shots out there, felt like I was a little loose with some shots off the tee and also irons, and to be able to feel like that and come out and shoot even par around a day like today, it’s definitely a positive and makes you feel good going into the weekend,” he said.

“I feel ready to go out and put myself in position to have a chance late on Sunday. But I think that’s the biggest thing is I feel like the game is where it needs to be. I feel good. I just need to tighten a few things up here or there, but the short game is sharp, and that’s what you need around a place like this.”

Overnight leader Justin Thomas recovered from a shaky start to his second round to salvage a 73 to sit in joint-third on two-under alongside fellow American Harris English and Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello after they carded matching 70s.

Another home player, Jason Kokrak, is the only other player under par on one-under, with a group on par made up of Belgian Thomas Pieters, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and American trio Xander Schauffele, Brendon Todd and Matthew Wolff.

Little has been seen of Cabrera Bello since landing the biggest win of his career in the 2017 Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, but this has been more like it from the 36-year-old.

“It’s a tournament I do like. I tend to be a grinder, as well. I never give up. I keep fighting,” he said picking up three shots in his last four holes. “I have played some great rounds in the US Open, at Pebble Beach, at Shinnecock (Hills) as well. I’ve been not quite able to finish as high up as I would have liked to, but it is different.

“It’s a major that tests your patience beyond limits and your mental strength as well, to accept the fact that you’re going to hit some great shots and going to end up making bogeys, and you just have to accept that sometimes two or three bogeys in a row is not as bad as it looks. I’m managing my game well this week. I played really good golf yesterday. I putted beautifully today, so I’m very happy with my performance so far.”

The tougher conditions were highlighted by Pieters after he briefly moved into the lead with two early birdies before limping home in 41 for a 74 and a level-par total. “I think I only hit one fairway on the back nine and it’s definitely twice as tough as yesterday with the wind,” said the 2016 Ryder Cup player. “I got myself out of position on every hole on the back nine, but I’m not unhappy.”

Watson’s effort lifted him into a tie for 12th alongside world No 2 Jon Rahm, with 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen also on one-over, while Norwegian Viktor Hovland is also in the top 20 on two-over.

After his promising start, it was tough second day at the office for 2011 winner Rory McIlroy, who slipped to three-over alongside world No 1 Dustin Johnson after a 76 that contained a double-bogey and seven bogeys.

At least the four-time major winner is still around for the weekend. Defending champion Gary Woodland missed the cut, which fell at six-over, as did Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson, Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson.

It was another dismal week at Winged Foot for three-time US Open champion Woods, who also made an early exit in 2006, as he finished on 10-over after rounds of 73-77.

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