US Open: Ludvig Aberg grinds to one-stroke lead as Tiger Woods misses cut

Sweden's Ludvig Aberg grinded his way to a one-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the US Open while top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and other favourites struggled at punishing Pinehurst.

Sixth-ranked Aberg, a runner-up at April's Masters in his major debut, fired a one-under par 69 to finish 36 holes on five-under 135.

"I hit it very nicely," Aberg said. "It was obviously very challenging, and it's not an easy golf course to play. But I felt like we stayed very disciplined, stayed very patient, and tried to hit it to our targets."

He had been sharing the lead with France's Matthieu Pavon, but the back-nine starter closed his round with bogeys at eight and the par-3 ninth to shoot 70 and share fifth.

"Super fortunate with the way that things have turned out over the last couple days, and hopefully we'll be able to keep it up," Aberg said.

One adrift in second were 2020 US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, fellow American Patrick Cantlay and Belgium's Thomas Detry.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, seeking his first major triumph in 10 years, shot 72 to share fifth with American Tony Finau and 24th-ranked Pavon on 137 and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, was eighth on 138 after a bogey-free 66.

Pre-tournament favourite Scheffler made the cut on the number at five-over 145 after shooting 74 in the first birdie-less major round of his career.

The two-time Masters champion was undone by bogeys at the par-3 15th and 17th and a double bogey at the par-5 fifth.

"It was definitely a grind," said Scheffler. "I'm proud of how I fought. I gave myself a good chance. Today I just couldn't get the putts to fall.

"This golf course can be unpredictable at times, and maybe it got the better of me the last couple