McIlroy rallies to remain in contention as Clark shots into early lead

Rory McIlroy rallied to shoot 3-under 67 to reach 8-under overall after stuffing his tee shot to 2 feet on the finishing ninth hole.

TREE-MENDOUS: Rory McIlroy plays his second shot on the 13th hole during the second round of the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Wyndham Clark had the lowest profile of the players who painted the leaderboards red on Thursday. On Friday, he took center stage in the morning wave with a second-round 67 that pushed him into the lead at 9-under with the first-round co-leaders yet to start.

“I imagine I won’t be leading at the end of today,” said Clark, who finished a shot ahead of afternoon starters Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele who shot 8-under 62s on Thursday.