Japan's Hideki Matsuyama hits out of a bunker on the 17th hole during the second round of the US Open golf tournament on June 14, 2024, in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Kyodo
Hideki Matsuyama climbed 42 spots on the U.S. Open golf leaderboard to eighth Friday after having the day's best round, a 4-under 66.The Japanese star made four birdies without a bogey on Pinehurst's difficult No. 2 course in North Carolina, leaving him at 2 under for the tournament, three strokes behind second-round leader Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, who shot a 69.Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay, both of the United States, and Belgium's Thomas Detry sat one shot off the pace.
After beginning his round on the 10th hole, Matsuyama picked up a shot on the par-4 11th and reeled off three birdies in a row from the third hole, making putts of 8, 16 and 10 feet, respectively.
"I'm glad to have had a bogey-free round," the 2021 Masters champion said. "There were a lot of situations where I could have carded a bogey. My short game went really well. I just hope my shots will get better, even by a little, the rest of the way."
Among other players, Tiger Woods missed the cut by two shots in his first U.S. Open appearance in four years.
Japan's Rikuya Hoshino also failed to advance to the weekend, guaranteeing Matsuyama and Keita Nakajima spots at the Paris Olympics as the top two Japanese in the June 17 world golf rankings, to be released after the U.S. Open. Hoshino was the only other golfer with a chance to finish in the top two.
While Nakajima is set for his Olympic debut, Matsuyama will make his second consecutive Olympic appearance after being among the losers in the seven-way playoff for the bronze medal three years ago in Tokyo. Kyodo
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