Wyndham Clark made the turn at five-under par in Friday's second round of the US Open, still two shots clear of the field despite a costly bogey at the ninth hole. The 32-year-old American, who won the 2023 US Open, had strung together eight straight pars before missing a three-foot putt at nine. That dropped him to five-under, but he remains ahead of a chasing pack that includes past US Open winners Dustin Johnson and Matt Fitzpatrick, plus Canada's Corey Conners — all tied at three-under.

Clark had already completed a six-under 64 in his opening round earlier Friday morning, after a fog delay on Thursday forced the suspension of play with 50 players still on the course. He picked up where he left off, grinding through the wind, speedy greens, and thick rough that have defined Shinnecock Hills this week. At the sixth, he found a greenside bunker but saved par with a nine-foot putt. At the par-three seventh, a 19-foot birdie attempt just missed the left edge.

Then came the ninth. Clark lipped out a 43-foot birdie try and then missed the short comeback putt — his first bogey of the tournament. Still, his lead is intact.

Behind him, Johnson — the 2016 US Open champion and 2020 Masters winner — shot a 66 in his first round and made a bogey at the third in round two. Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, parred every hole on the front nine. Conners joined them with a five-foot birdie at the first hole, his 10th of the round.

Gary Woodland, the 2019 US Open winner, started strong with a birdie to reach four-under but then made four bogeys in six holes to fall back. Justin Thomas, a two-time PGA Championship winner, went three-under on the back nine to get to two-under alongside Xander Schauffele, another two-time major winner.

Rory McIlroy, the world number two from Northern Ireland, opened with a 69 and was set for a late start. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, who needs a US Open to complete a career Grand Slam, opened with a 72 and also goes off late.

For Clark, this tournament is personal. Last year at Oakmont, he missed the cut and smashed a locker in the clubhouse. The US Golf Association banned him from the course until he completed anger management therapy or counseling and paid for repairs. “That was a really challenging time and something I’ve deeply regretted and feel awful that I did that,” Clark said Monday. “But there were so many good lessons in that that really taught me a bunch. I’ve really come a long way and I’m excited for this year’s Open for some redemption and to move forward.”

Elsewhere, the USGA announced a two-stroke penalty on Chile's Joaquin Niemann for throwing a club on the sixth hole on Thursday, calling it serious misconduct. Niemann made an 11 on that par-four hole and shot 78 in round one.

The second round continues through Friday evening, and the cut line is expected to fall around two-over par.