• US Open, Round Two, Plays of the Day

Rors all over the course

Rory McIlroy holed a shot from the fairway for an eagle - and that wasn't even the most impressive feat he managed on Friday © PA Photos

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ESPN will be providing live commentary during all four days of the US Open from Congressional CC - along with all the news, views and opinion when it gets underway on Thursday

Ten thunder
You can count on one hand the number of players who have reached ten-under in a US Open - but McIlroy joined that list in record time on Friday, thanks to that eagle. Tiger Woods, Dr Gil Morgan, Ricky Barnes and Jim Furyk being the only other four to manage it. A word of warning, however - of those four, only two (Woods and Furyk) actually went on to win the tournament.

Lucky thirteen
Having said that, in the 116-year history of the US Open not one player had ever reached 13-under for the tournament at any point - until McIlroy managed it after a birdie at the 17th. Even with a double-bogey at the last, his total of 131 shots after 36 holes was still another tournament record. Some going.

Pitch too perfect
Brandt Snedeker must have thought he'd played a perfect approach into the 17th, flying the ball 20 feet over the front pin position and letting a hint of spin trickle the ball back down to the cup. He forgot to factor one thing in, however - his pitchmark. As the ball hopped forward four feet before beginning its slow descent, it rolled straight back towards the pitchmark - hitting the uprooted turf and stopping instantly. Instead of a five-footer for birdie, the American was left with a lightning-fast 20-footer that he was happy to two-putt for par. The price for being too precise.

General Bubba Watson played some military golf on Friday © PA Photos

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Three-sily done
No problems for former winner at Congressional Ernie Els, you would have thought, when he was faced with a putt from 18 inches to make his par on his opening hole of the day, the par-three 10th. But, alas, apparently there were - the South African managing to miss that tiddler AND the return as he somehow came away with a double-bogey five after one of the most uncomfortable three-putts you are ever likely to see. Ouch.

One horse race
Strike it off the list of things you never thought you'd hear at a major championship (at least, not in one in which Tiger Woods isn't playing). As said by a commentator: "This putt, to move into second and within seven shots of the leader."

Yes he Can(tlay)
Remember the name. The race to be the top amateur at any major championship is always an exciting side-story, and Patrick Cantlay threw his name firmly into the mix with a deeply impressive round of 67 that returned him to level par for the competition. The boy's just 19 ... something tells us he might have a real future in this game.

Plotting the wrong course
So much of being successful in a US Open is about putting the ball in the right spots. Last year's champion, Graeme McDowell, evidently forgot that on the fourth, as he tried to chip his shot from the back of the green down to a devilish pin position. He whiffed it slightly, leaving his ball short in the fringe. From there, such was the slope around him he was forced to aim at 90 degrees to his target, tapping the ball all of six inches before seeing it turn right and sprint down the hill to the hole 20 feet away. Unfortunately, it didn't go in - and McDowell was left with a double bogey.

Hubba Bubba
Bubba Watson is a popular player in his homeland primarily because of his numerous idiosyncracies - from the loopy swing that sends the ball out ridiculous distances, to the slightly goofy dress sense and haircut that comes with it. The left-hander underlined that status on Friday by wearing exactly the same outfit as he donned on Thursday - a military-themed number (resplendent with four-star general notation) with camouflage pants to pay tribute to those in the army - along with a watch of envious size. It's value? Just a cool half a million dollars. Pro golf can pay the bills, ladies and gentlemen.

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