McIlroy sits one off Morikawa and Dahmen as battle of Brookline commences

From warring factions to a war of attrition. A US Open broke out at the US Open on Friday, with that welcome sense of familiarity supplying at least a brief distraction from all matters to do with a breakaway tour. Every golfer in a wonderfully congested field, even those who made the cut by the skin of their chinos, will have reasonable aspirations of winning the penultimate men’s major of the year.

As Brookline bared teeth, the best in the world clung on for dear life. Rory McIlroy needed three attempts to find the green from thick fescue adjacent to the putting surface at the 3rd. The Northern Irishman’s converted double bogey putt, from 22ft, could prove hugely significant as this major hurtles towards a conclusion. Minimising errors can matter more than swashbuckling golf in this domain.

“I stayed patient,” McIlroy said. “I knew I was going to give myself chances if I just hit the ball the way I have been hitting it. Today was a really good example of just having a good attitude.”

At four under par after a battling 69, McIlroy sits one adrift of Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen. Given how easily things could have imploded three holes in for McIlroy, he will be wholly satisfied with this position – while being well aware, of course, of how dangerous Morikawa in particular is. McIlroy covered holes 12 to 17 in three under par. Putting, often criticised, has been a key McIlroy strength this week.

The 66 delivered by Morikawa was the performance of the second round. Morikawa, whose calm approach is so beneficial in this environment, is seeking a third major win in 11 starts. An eagle putt at the 8th, his 17th, shot wide of the hole from five foot, stunning the reigning Open champion, but a birdie was sufficient for him