U.S. Open analysis: What to know on Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele and more

The sun finally showed itself Friday afternoon in Los Angeles, revealing a firmer, more difficult evaluation for players in Round 2 of the 123rd U.S. Open.

One day after Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele shot the only 62s in U.S. Open history, the low round of the day was a more palatable 65 by Min Woo Lee. Nine players enter the weekend at or within five shots of the lead, but with conditions getting more difficult, the casting call of contenders is likely to grow beyond that number.

Here are the top numbers and notes to know from the United States Open.

1. Fowler carded a Friday 68 to give him a 36-hole total of 130, tying Martin Kaymer in 2014 at Pinehurst for the lowest opening 36-hole total in U.S. Open history. Fowler’s round was anything but bland: eight birdies, six bogeys and just four pars on his meandering journey to a score of 2-under. In the last 20 years, Fowler’s Friday performance is the only instance at the U.S. Open of a player breaking par with four or fewer pars on the scorecard.

Fowler birdied each of his first three holes, vaulting him to 11 under par faster than any player in the history of the championship. The previous mark for fewest holes to reach 11 under was 32 holes by Rory McIlroy at Congressional back in 2011. Fowler’s 18 birdies obliterated the old record for most made through two rounds at the U.S. Open: Before today, the record was held by Gil Morgan at Pebble Beach in 1992, with 14. Last year’s champion Matt Fitzpatrick made 19 birdies-or-better for the entire tournament. In 23 of the previous 30 years, Fowler’s two-round total of 18 would lead or be tied for the lead over the course of all 72 holes.

Fowler is ranked second in the field in both strokes gained tee-to-green and strokes gained putting. Can his comeback crescendo this week with his first major win?

2. Alongside Fowler in the final pairing Saturday will be Wyndham Clark, who made only one bogey Friday in his 3-under-par 67. This is the first time Clark has been in the top 50 through 36 holes of a major championship. It’s the biggest stage he’s ever played on, sure — but just last month Clark stared down one of the game’s best and didn’t blink. At the Wells Fargo Championship, Clark trailed Schauffele by a shot with 11 holes to play. He wound up dusting Schauffele by four strokes.

Clark has been excellent on and around the greens this week — he leads the field in strokes gained around the green and ranks fourth in strokes gained putting. Impressive touch for a man more known for his sheer athleticism: He has the sixth-fastest club head speed on the PGA Tour in 2023.

3. McIlroy is just two shots back, making this the third time in the last five majors contested that McIlroy is in the top three through 36 holes. This is the fourth time McIlroy has started a major championship with two consecutive rounds of 67 or better. In each of the other three instances — the 2011 U.S. Open, 2014 Open Championship and 2014…