The 2009 British Open victor made his first appearance at the U.S. Open in three years, having secured a qualifying spot at the Columbus, Ohio, sectional.
Paul Casey shot 1-under 71, and the trio of Brian Harman, Tommy Fleetwood and Brooks Koepka shot 70 to share the lead at 7-under 137.
But Oostihuizen knows how quickly momentum can swing at a U.S. Open. Willett, who pulled out before the start of his second round, was heading towards the Erin Hills exit anyway after an opening round 81.
NOTEWORTHY: None of the top 18 players on the leaderboard have won a major. Also in with a chance are American Ryder Cup hero Patrick Reed and Si Woo Kim, the 21 year old Korean who became the youngest-ever victor of the Players Championship last month.
Provided the rain stays away, Brandt Snedeker believes the course will get dry and fast enough to create a little more separation. Tom Kite won his only major.
The 11-year-old course is incredibly open, featuring flowing fields of fine fescue along its roughs and abstract, crater-like bunkers strewn about all 18 holes. He dedicated his first victory, the 2013 Johnnie Walker Championship, to his dog, Maisy.
The stats prove him right.
"I'm hungry", Thomas told reporters. Stricker, who turned 50 this year, will be eligible to play in his own event after sticking to hosting duties when the tournament started last year. He tied for 27th at Chambers Bay two years ago.
American Justin Thomas equalled the lowest score in major championship history in stunning fashion to surge into contention for the US Open at Erin Hills.
WEATHER FORECAST: Hazardous weather outlook - More storms possible
Sunday night will be uncomfortable with moderate to high humidity and temperatures dropping no lower than 70 degrees in spots. A slight cool down returns for early next week, with temperatures generally in the low to mid 80s through next week.
Asked if he would have been able to recover from such a mistake earlier in his career, Casey added: "In my good seasons, yes, but there have been times when I struggled, so probably not!" Furyk was never seriously challenged in the final round, and he wound up winning by three shots and matching what was then the U.S. Open record at 272.
Koepka is big on power, and he's close friends with Dustin Johnson.
"Usually when you shoot even in a U.S. Open and you're one off the lead, you're not six down afterward", J.B. Holmes said. "I think it's going to produce a really great champion". "It's not Sunday afternoon", he said.
His first four holes went this way: double bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey. No matter what that's something when you're always going to walk up the 18th green with your best mate.
The little lefty from Georgia has a chance to make a little history at Erin Hills. "But I had no idea in terms of 9-under being the best in the U.S. Open". The timing would be peculiar considering that Phil Mickelson couldn't make it this year. "This went totally against the tradition of the U.S. Open".
"I felt the most calm I have in a major in a long time this week", he said. As the story goes, Johnson replied, "No, you didn't".
Marc Leishman has maintained his position high on the leaderboard midway through the second round at the US Open.
Then he exited stage left, stopped to sign a couple golf balls for the patrolmen who followed him for the second round, and checked his cell phone as he walked up the hill and toward the locker room for the last time this week.
"I'm more motivated by the fact that I've made a plan and I've stuck to the plan so far", Harman said.
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