U.S. Open 2024: The big questions for the third round - ESPN

PINEHURST, N.C. — Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods won't be around for the weekend at the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 — and world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler barely made it.

Sweden's Ludvig Åberg survived the fast and firm conditions and stifling heat to take the lead at 5 under, which is 1 stroke better than LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau, Belgium's Thomas Detry and Patrick Cantlay heading into the final 36 holes.

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy — trying to end a nearly 10-year drought without winning one — is only 2 strokes behind, along with Tony Finau and France's Matthieu Pavon.

Woods, a three-time U.S. Open winner, missed the cut for the fourth time in his past five starts in the event. Scheffler looked like he might be headed home early, too, until the cut moved from 4 over to 5 over to keep him around.

Here's what to watch in the final 36 holes at Pinehurst No. 2:

Mark Schlabach: I could easily go with McIlroy or Åberg, who are probably the most talented players among the leaders, or DeChambeau, who is brimming with confidence in his equipment and game.

But I'm going to go with Hideki Matsuyama, who is looking to win his second major championship after he captured his first at the 2021 Masters. He won against an elite field at the Genesis Invitational in February and is more than capable of doing it again.

Matsuyama has one of the best short games in the world — he came into the week ranked first on tour in strokes gained: around the green (.761) and sixth in scrambling (68.4%).

If conditions are going to get more difficult, and Pinehurst No. 2 is going to get browner and firmer on the weekend, I'll trust the guy who knows how to get up and down from just about anywhere. While