Branden Grace will hope to deny Jordan Spieth a place in the history books over the weekend of the US Open Championship after moving within one shot of the lead held jointly by the reigning Masters Tournament champion and his fellow American Patrick Reed.
Grace made a significant move on day two at Chambers Bay, signing for a round of 67 to climb to four under par and within sight of a maiden Major Championship.
The highlight of the six-time European Tour winner’s day came on the eighth hole, where he drained an eagle putt from 35 yards.
“That was a bonus,” the South African said. “I hit a great drive and what I thought was a great second, but it just slipped off the green.
“With the severe backdrop, I thought of chipping but decided to take the putter in the end, and it worked out pretty well!
“It was a tough day, a real grind but I stayed in there. I’ve been playing well. I’ve had a good start to the season, and everything has been building up to something like this. I just feel very comfortable on this type of course.”
Spieth, meanwhile, is looking to become just the sixth man, after Craig Wood, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, to win the Masters and US Open in the same year.
The World Number Two, who can also become the first player since Gene Sarazen in 1922 to win multiple Majors before turning 22, matched Grace’s round of 67 to move to five under par, a mark which was later matched by European Tour Member Reed.
Starting on the back nine, Spieth birdied the tenth, 14th, 15th and 17th holes, before running up a double bogey six on the par four 18th.
The 21 year old hit the lip of a bunker with his second shot and found more sand with his third, but recovered to birdie the first.
Spieth said: “I know that it’s going to get tougher and tougher when Saturday and Sunday hit. So I’ll draw on Augusta, but at the same time my patience levels have to be even higher. I’m not quite putting myself in the same positions off the tee, so I’ve got to be a little more methodical.
“At Augusta I was finding fairways, finding greens and I was making everything. It would be nice if I could do that here, but it’s a harder golf course than Augusta played this year.”
Reed, who took up European Tour membership at the start of the season after starring for the American team in last year’s Ryder Cup, would have held the outright lead were it not for a three-putt bogey on the last hole.
The 24 year old had moved into the lead on six under par courtesy of a stunning approach from the sand on the 16th hole, but that late blemish meant a round of 69 and a share of the lead with his Ryder Cup partner Spieth.
He said: “It’s going to be fun at the weekend – any time I play with Jordan I enjoy it. The main thing for me is to stay focused on what I need to do and plot my way around this golf course, especially if it gets firmer and faster – which it will.
“I’ve been hitting my tee shots really well all week. I feel very confident with the driver. I feel like I can swing it as hard as I want to, and the ball’s still going to end up on the fairway. So that bodes well for the weekend. I just need to hole a few more putts, but that’s not easy on these greens.”
Other European Tour Members riding high on the leaderboard include Dutchman Joost Luiten, who shares fifth place on three under par.
Luiten, who like Grace and Reed is looking for his maiden Major, flew home in just 31 shots to add a round of 69 to his opening 68.
Joint overnight leader Henrik Stenson fared less well, however, as a four over par round of 74 saw the Swede slip down the leaderboard to one under par alongside Ireland’s Shane Lowry and France’s Alex Levy.
There was drama in the morning when Jason Day, playing in the same group as Justin Rose, appeared to faint on his final hole.
After being treated by medics, the Australian was able to complete the hole and sign for a round of 70 to remain on two under par.
He was later diagnosed with vertigo, but is hopeful of playing in the third round.
World Number One Rory McIlroy will also tee up at the weekend after making the cut on four over par, but Woods was on his way home after a round of 76 left him on 16 over.
