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Canada's Pendrith faces challenge of bouncing back after tough end to second round at U.S. Open
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    Canada’s Pendrith faces challenge of bouncing back after tough end to second round at U.S. Open

    PINEHURST, N.C. – While the best player in the world was flummoxed by a Pinehurst No. 2 that was crispy and mind-bending, Canadian Taylor Pendrith continued his straightforward approach to the course – and for nearly his entire second round Pendrith was firmly in the mix at the U.S. Open. 

    Pendrith is not out of it now by any means, but a triple-bogey 6 on the par-3 9th (his final hole Friday after starting on the back nine) took all of his hard work away and left him back where he started. 

    Pendrith was 3 under through his first nine holes before adding another birdie on the par-4 1st. At 4 under through 10 holes, he had the round of the day going. His final-hole triple brought him in the house with an even-par 70. 

    Pendrith was on track to be just the ninth Canadian in tournament history to be inside the top 10 through 36 holes before his final-hole stumble. 

    “I did everything pretty well. I drove the ball really good. Hit a lot of really quality iron shots and putted well,” Pendrith said. “A little unfortunate on the last. Hit a pretty nice shot, and it was plugged in the face. I thought I hit a really nice bunker shot and it just went over the green. That’ll happen here.” 

    Pendrith, who was in the final groups of the morning wave on Friday, was, in a word, dialled. He was fifth in strokes gained: off the tee, and fourth in strokes gained: putting for the morning – often a part of his game that gets overlooked because of how long he’s been known as a long-bomber. 

    “I played really solid honestly, all day. Wasn’t really ever out of position much. Overall, everything was super solid. The last hole, a little unfortunate, but all in all it was a great day,” Pendrith said. 

    “If I tripled the first hole today and shot even, I’d probably be thrilled. It is what it is. This place is super hard, and it can happen quickly.”

    With temperatures soaring through Friday – the United States Golf Association issued a heat alert to spectators on site – Pinehurst No. 2 bared its teeth.  

    Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 and the heavy favourite this week, was hamstrung by the treacherous green complexes at Pinehurst, sitting 91st in strokes gained: putting for the day and finishing at 5 over – in danger of missing his first cut in 672 days. 

    “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 days,” Scheffler said. 

    Bryson DeChambeau, who finished runner up at the PGA Championship and was tied for fourth after rounds of 67-69, said if the wind picks up then the players are in for a meaty test over the weekend. 

    “It’s going to be diabolical,” DeChambeau said. 

    Hideki Matusyama shot the round of the day in the morning, a 4-under 66. First-round co-leader Rory McIlroy backed up after a 2-over 72 but was still just two shots back of the lead as the afternoon wave got underway. 

    McIlroy was bogey-free on Thursday, and the last three times he’s opened a U.S. Open going without a square on the scorecard, he’s gone on to win. 

    “With the way the golf course is and the way some of those hole locations are, I don’t see anyone running away with it today, building up too much of a lead,” McIlroy said. 

    That’s good news for Pendrith, who will head into the weekend at 1 over – but as of mid-afternoon Friday, he was only six back of the lead. 

    Pendrith has missed the cut at his last two U.S. Open starts (2021, 2023), so finding the weekend has already been a mini victory. 

    A hearty run up the leaderboard over the next two days could also mean something even more special for Pendrith – a spot on the Olympic team. 

    Pendrith notched his first PGA Tour title in early May, winning The CJ Cup Byron Nelson by a stroke. He had an early exit at the PGA Championship but is Canada’s fourth-highest male golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking at No. 65 (the ranking that determines who will play in Paris).

    There is a chance there could be some historic shake ups in the Olympic race for Canada given how the other golfers from this country fared at Pinehurst through two rounds. 

    Adam Svensson will make the cut after rounds of 73-70 gets him to 3 over. At No. 89 in the world, even a victory this weekend may not catapult him into Olympic contention – but this is the second straight U.S. Open he’s made the cut at.  

    Mackenzie Hughes struggled to a 12-over 82 on Friday at Pinehurst after opening with a quadruple-bogey 8 on the first hole – and wasn’t able to recover. At No. 66 in the world, he has quashed his chances to earn his way to Paris. 

    Nick Taylor, meanwhile, will also miss the cut. He hasn’t found the weekend in eight straight major championship starts. At No. 32 in the world, it’s unlikely, however, he will be passed for a spot in Paris as Pendrith would potentially need a top-3 finish to make a quantum leap up the standings. Corey Conners is also having a solid start to his tournament. At No. 46 wouldn’t need as good a finish, but would still need, likely, a top-5 result to do it.

    Adam Hadwin at No. 35 in the world currently holds the second Canadian Olympic spot and is also playing in the afternoon wave Friday at Pinehurst. He shot a 4-over 74 Thursday. 

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    Canadian golfer Taylor Pendrith faced a tough end to the second round of the U.S. Open, but now he faces the challenge of bouncing back and regaining his momentum in the tournament.

    Pendrith, who hails from Richmond Hill, Ontario, had a strong start to the U.S. Open, shooting a one-under-par 69 in the first round. However, he struggled in the second round, carding a five-over-par 75 to finish at four over for the tournament.

    Despite the setback, Pendrith remains optimistic and focused on turning things around in the remaining rounds of the U.S. Open. He knows that golf is a game of ups and downs, and that one bad round does not define his overall performance in the tournament.

    Pendrith has shown resilience and determination throughout his career, and he will need to draw on those qualities as he looks to bounce back from his disappointing second round. He will need to stay focused, stay positive, and trust in his abilities to overcome the challenges he faces.

    The U.S. Open is known for its demanding courses and tough competition, but Pendrith has the talent and skill to compete at the highest level. He will need to stay patient, stay calm under pressure, and make smart decisions on the course in order to climb up the leaderboard and put himself in contention for a strong finish.

    As a proud Canadian representing his country on the international stage, Pendrith will have the support of fans back home cheering him on as he looks to bounce back and make a statement at the U.S. Open. With hard work, determination, and a positive mindset, Pendrith has the potential to overcome his challenges and achieve success in this prestigious tournament.