“Most likely all players in the field are going to have a struggle at some point during the round,” said Ludvig Aberg following the conclusion of the second round. It appears he was correct. After the third round, Collin Morikawa expressed a similar sentiment. With the conclusion of the third round, all eyes were on the leaderboard. Aberg, who was leading at the end of the second round, has been pushed back to T5, while Bryson DeChambeau now leads the charge. Meanwhile, Morikawa is tied for 9th place with Corey Conners and Tom Kim.

The surprising change in the positions on the leaderboard could be due to the stress that Pinehurst No. 2 presents. According to Morikawa, that is indeed the reason. Morikawa completed his third round with a 4-under 66, all thanks to the four birdies he made. Later, the American joined the press conference and expressed his thoughts. While doing so, he was asked, “Guys in the past have said this kind of golf is fun, but for one week. If it was every week, it would be too much. If every week was like this, do you think you would win more or less? Would you be up for that?” 

In response, the 27-year-old started with, “I don’t know if I’d be up for it. We’d be so stressed out every week. You’re playing 20 to 25 events a year. I would need way more time off than what we have.” Emphasizing the difficulty of Pinehurst No. 2, he remarked that it is far more stressful and further added “Does it suit me a little bit better? Yeah. No, I can’t say that. I’ve shot rounds 25, 30 under par, as well. I think I’ve played well in both styles. It’s just a different game plan. You can’t fake in a round when it’s this tough. Everything gets exposed. Yes, some good shots aren’t rewarded as well as you would want. It’s a true test of who can stay as patient as possible.” 

It’s indeed true that when the game gets tough for the pros, their accuracy and precision quickly decrease and become visible. The inverted bowl designs of Pinehurst No. 2 contribute to this. Shots aimed near the pin can unexpectedly roll away, often ending up 30 yards off target. At the US Open, stress is increasingly becoming the primary concern for the pros. Reflecting on these challenges, Ludvig Aberg expressed similar sentiments yesterday.

Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg share the same thoughts about the US Open

Following the conclusion of the second round, Aberg was sitting on top of the leaderboard. Later, after the round, he came up with the same sentiments and said, “It’s a demanding golf course, not only physically but mentally, as well. It demands a lot of discipline and patience coming into these greens.” Additionally, he also talked about keeping a strategic approach to counter this. However, the challenges and demands of the US Open have now pushed Aberg to T5. Whether he can bounce back remains a question.

The USGA is known for making the course difficult, not just for the US Open but also for events like the US Women’s Open, where even the #1 golfer, Nelly Korda, struggled and failed to make the cut. Their success in this approach is evident at Pinehurst No. 2 as well. With one round remaining, do you believe Bryson DeChambeau will be able to maintain his lead? Share your thoughts in the comments below!