115th U.S. Open Championship Second Round Highlights

ICYMI: Jason Day Suffers Benign Positional Vertigo, Collapses on Final Hole of Second Round – VIDEO: http://foxs.pt/1GbnOn6

Jordan Spieth on 18th hole: “This is the dumbest hole I’ve ever played in my life.” – VIDEO: http://foxs.pt/1GXFtT6

Following an opening round that garnered the largest average television audience for a first day at the U.S. Open since 2002 (see more), FOX Sports’ presentation of the championship continued Friday from Chambers Bay. While players moved up and down the leaderboard in an effort to survive the weekend cut, Patrick Reed and reigning Masters champion Jordan Spieth surged to the head of the pack, finishing Friday with a share of the lead at 5-under par. FOX Sports’ coverage of the U.S. Open continues Saturday, June 20 at 2:00 PM ET on local FOX stations.

FULL BROADCAST SCHEDULE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY

Day/Date Round Time (ET) Network
Saturday, June 20 Third 2:00 – 10:00 PM FOX
7:00 – 10:00 PM FOX Deportes

Sunday, June 21 Final 2:00 – 10:30 PM FOX
7:00 – 10:30 PM FOX Deportes

Friday’s round may be most remembered for contender Jason Day succumbing to symptoms of Benign Positional Vertigo and collapsing on the fairway of the ninth hole, his last of the second round. U.S. Open on FOX lead analyst and longtime friend of Day’s, Greg Norman, was the lone member of the media to speak with him and shared his insights:
“I did speak to Jason very briefly. He was escorted to the medical area after he signed his scorecard and he just looked at me and said, ‘I’ve just got vertigo, I’m going to be OK. I want to come back and play tomorrow.’ I also spoke to Colin [Swatton], his caddie, about a week or so ago and this has been one of the big concerns for Jason and Colin. He has had brain scans, he has had a lot of CBCs (complete blood counts), he’s had neck scans done and even gone through sleep tests to make sure he’s sleeping correctly, checking how that neck position is. They have all come out negative. So from Jason’s standpoint, Jason himself is just concerned because he needs to know. Quite honestly, it’s been more perplexing to him because everybody is telling him he’s negative.”

Spieth struggled on the par-4 18th hole today, making double bogey (six) for just the second time in six major-championship rounds in 2015. His animated, audible assessment of the hole is available here and analyst Brad Faxon discussed his demeanor on the course:
“He’s a 21-year-old. He hit a pretty good drive and it’s unfortunate to be up on the lip of the bunker there and it’s a tough shot out. He’s fiery. We saw it at the Masters two years ago when he lost to Bubba Watson. He had some spirit out there, but that’s what makes you a good player too isn’t it?”

Norman and lead U.S. Open on FOX announcer Joe Buck wrapped up the day by looking ahead to Saturday’s action:
“I am very excited to see Jordan Speith and Patrick Reed compete tomorrow, but I am also excited to see all of the guys who are between even par and 5-under over the weekend. They all have a chance to win this championship. Remember, the USGA is not going to make this course any easier tomorrow or Sunday, and you notice the guys playing in the afternoon are all experiencing the same conditions.

Buck agreed and believes the winner will be the player best suited to manage the extremely challenging greens during the afternoon rounds:
"You get the feeling that the winner of this U.S. Open is going to be the guy who can manage these greens late in the day, because they get harder and harder as we go along."