UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Rory McIlroy was creeping near U.S. Open contention when four quick swipes of the putter dropped him down near the cut line.
Although he still has struggled to deliver his best stuff, the world No. 1 clawed to within six shots of the lead late Friday when he made birdie from 8 feet on the par-3 15th hole.
Two holes later he four-putted from 60 feet and made double bogey.
After closing with a bogey on the home hole, McIlroy shot a second consecutive 72 to end 36 holes at 4 over par, directly on the cut line; He is nine shots behind leaders Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.