Louis Oosthuizen made sure he would be around for the weekend at the US Open by posting a two-under par 70 to make the cut at Erin Hills, as did Brandon Stone.
Oosthuizen is a man for the Majors, having won the 2010 Open Championship and twice been a runner-up at this level, and he rebounded from an opening 74 by being a model of consistency in the second round.
Starting on the 10th tee with countryman Charl Schwartzel, Oosthuizen made birdie at the 12th and another at the par-four 15th to move to level par for the tournament. His only blemish of the day came on the short 16th, but he immediately made amends with a birdie on the par-five seventh, his 16th hole for the day.
Playing partner Schwartzel, however, was having a tough time and looked unlikely to make the 36-hole cut.
After four straight birdies to start his day he made an ugly double bogey seven on the 14th – his fifth hole for the day – parred the next one, birdied the short 16th (his seventh), and another bogey say him reach the turn at three-over for his round.
Bogeys followed at seven and eight (his 167th and 17th) and at least he signed off with a birdie on his final hole, but it looked too little too late.
The early clubhouse leader was England’s Paul Casey, who added an adventurous one-under 71 to his opening 66 to lie at seven-under 137. Oosthuizen was on 144 and Schwartzel on 147.
Brandon Stone was also guaranteed to make the cut, despite adding a 74 to his opening 70 for 144, alongside Oosthuizen.
Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images