Fowler's wild ride gives him 1-shot lead after 2nd round of U.S. Open

Rickie Fowler was flamboyant as ever Friday in the U.S. Open, not so much with his attire as a golf game so wildly entertaining that he made only four pars in his 2-under 68 that gave him a share of the 36-hole record and a one-shot lead going into the weekend.

Los Angeles Country Club tried to fight back after a record opening day of low scores, and help arrived in the form of a blazing sun and just enough wind to keep the toughest test in golf from turning into a festival of birdies.

Fowler still did his part, making birdies on half of the holes he has played over two rounds. What mattered was leading a major at the halfway point for the first time, and growing confidence that his three-year slump is well behind him.

He was at 10-under 130, tying the U.S. Open record set by Martin Kaymer in 2014 at Pinehurst No. 2. Fowler led by one shot over Wyndham Clark (67), with Rory McIlroy (67) and Xander Schauffele (70) two shots behind.

"Yes, I'm in the lead, but we're only halfway there," Fowler said. "Being in the lead is nice, but it really means nothing right now. I'm looking forward to continuing to challenge myself and go out there and try and execute the best I can."

Cementing his name in <a href="https://twitter.com/usopengolf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USOpenGolf</a> history.<a href="https://twitter.com/RickieFowler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RickieFowler</a> is on a tear at LACC. <a href="https://t.co/qLmfisUIiV">pic.twitter.com/qLmfisUIiV</a>

He started with three straight birdies, all of them from about 6 feet. The two bogeys he made on the front nine were followed by birdies. He started the back nine with two bogeys, only to answer with a 25-foot birdie putt. Back and forth it went, all round, until he finished with a