Jason Day followed up a 79 in the first round with a 75 in round two, Rory McIlroy was always up against it after a 78 on Thursday and although he shot one under on Friday he was well short of the cut. None has ever won a major, and neither have the next 14 players behind them.

"Not your typical U.S. Open setup, but I'm a big fan", McIlroy said.

Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who shot a 1-under 71 Friday to get to 3 under, said, "I think the greens are getting US Open-like, but not as firm as they're going to get if we don't get any rain". His play from tee to green was good enough to find himself right in the thick of the championship hunt, but his putting let him down time and time again. "There's maybe two or three holes, but other than that it's bombs away".

Of the 68 players who made the cut, 42 are under par.

No one took advantage like Fowler.

Playing partner Jason Day was also six over and 13 shots off the lead held by American Rickie Fowler, who was among the later starters.

Miller, whose 8-under 63 came in the final round, and Jack Nicklaus (1980, Baltusrol) are the only players to shoot 63 in a U.S. Open and win.

Thomas made six birdies and one bogey on his front nine in the third round, and capped the round with an eagle, three birdies and a bogey on the back nine.

"I felt this is a golf course sets up really well for me, especially if I'm driving it like I did today", Johnson said.

The leading South Africans are two-time US Open champion Ernie Els and Thomas Aiken, who are tied for 24th at 2-under-par.

The 39-year-old was only able to move his fourth shot a matter of inches in heavy rough over the back of the green on the par five, before hacking out sideways and taking three putts from just off the green.

Koepka, a power-hitting U.S. Ryder Cup team member, said, "I'm pretty chill anyway".

Fleetwood's second shot on the par-five 18th finished just 47 yards from the pin.

Paula Dougherty of Murrieta, Calif., hugs her son Kevin after he finished the second round of the US open golf tournament Friday, June 16, 2017, at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. Dougherty finished the day shooting at 1 under par, making the cut.

Branden Grace (72), Louis Oosthuizen (70) and Brandon Stone (74) are level-par, but Charl Schwartzel (3-over), George Coetzee and Oliver Bekker (both 7-over) missed the cut.

"When I got here Friday, put a lot of work in - not a lot, but I tried to pace myself".

Odd U.S. Open. Frustrating to many. A rattled Casey added another bogey at the 15th to extend his miserable run before hitting the turbo-charger and firing off five consecutive birdies.

The 30-year-old Harman has five top-10 finishes and two victories since joining the tour in 2012, most recently at the Wells Fargo Championship in May.

McIlroy was never in the short grass from the 11th hole to the end on Thursday when he opened with a career-worst 78, and he didn't do almost enough in the second round until it was far too late.