Koepka stumbles to halfway point of US Open; Fowler, Wyndham, Schauffele lead

Los Angeles, Jun 16 (EFE).- American two-time winner Brooks Koepka has struggled in the first and second rounds of the US Open and currently stands at even par at the halfway point of the tournament, far behind leaders Ricky Fowler, Wyndham Clark and Xander Schauffele.

Koepka, who is bidding to join an elite group of just six golfers – including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods – who have won three or more US Open titles, shot a 1-over 71 on Thursday and followed it up with a 1-under 69 on Friday at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Fresh off his victory at the PGA Championships in May, his fifth major title, the 33-year-old American was on the short list of favorites in Los Angeles.

But he has been erratic thus far on a course that only features three par-5s – the long holes he has dominated en route to becoming one of the best players of the 21st century.

Koepka is 2-under on the par-5s through two rounds and has not yet been able to tame the 600-yard-plus 14th hole, having made pars both on Thursday and Friday.

Even as Koepka has fared poorly by his standards, Fowler started the tournament on fire to shoot an 8-under on Thursday and then birdie the first three holes on Friday.

The American has cooled off since then, but still has a share of the lead at 9-under along with countrymen Clark and Schauffele with 11 holes completed in his second round. EFE

/mc