US Open 2021 - Round 2: Richard Bland & Russell Henley Share the lead; Hovland withdraws after injury

The 121st US Open Championship, Torrey Pines, 17-20 June 2021: Day Two


Richard Bland & Russell Henley Share the lead

At the halfway mark for the US Open 2021 Englishman Richard Bland shares the lead with Russell Henley from the US.  Richard Bland is the 2021 British Masters champion, who achieved that win after 20 years and 478 attempts! He has never won an event on the PGA TOUR.  Henley's co-lead position is also surprising many, as he has not finished in the top ten through 26 major attempts.

Also during this round, Viktor Hovland took himself out of the tournament after an eye injury.  A bunker shot on Thursday had blasted sand into his eye. At first he tried to play on, regardless. However it worsened on Friday and he withdrew.

From the Daily Wrap-up, by AP:

The weekend at Torrey Pines features major champions and major contenders, players who are unknown or unheralded, all of them still within reach of that U.S. Open trophy. Nine shots separated first from last.

It starts with Richard Bland, a 48-year-old from England who finally won on the European Tour last month in his 478th try. Bland had a 4-under 67 and walked off Torrey Pines with his name atop the leaderboard in only his fourth major. His first one was 23 years ago...  Read more

From CBS Sports:

Richard Bland has never won... an event on the PGA Tour. And yet, the 48-year-old Englishman finds himself at the center of the 2021 U.S. Open through two rounds of play after firing a second-round 67 on Friday, making him co-leader of the championship with Russell Henley entering Moving Day at Torrey Pines.

Henley nearly took the lead himself into Saturday before a bogey-free round of golf was spoiled on his final hole. He turned in a 1-under 70. Both Henley and Bland will head to Round 3 at 5 under, holding a one-stroke edge on Louis Oosthuizen.  Read more

From Yahoo!Sports/ AFP:

Golfing journeymen Richard Bland and Russell Henley, shock midway co-leaders at the US Open, were set for the biggest rounds of their careers Saturday at Torrey Pines.

Third-round play began at the oceanside layout with England's Bland, trying to become the oldest US Open champion at 48, and Henley, never a top-10 finisher in 26 major starts, in the final pairing on five-under par 137.

Henley, who hasn't won a US PGA event in four years, and Bland, playing in only his fourth major and second US event, showed no sign of worry even with six major winners lurking within five shots.  Read more

Golf Digest features a LIVE UPDATES link

USGA Viewing Schedule

Torrey Pines South Course

USGA: US Open Championship 2021

US Open 2021 Leaderboard - Golf Channel

US Open 2021 Leaderboard - PGA TOUR


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