SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler gritted and grinned his way into contention at the U.S. Open on Friday, bouncing back from a 2-over start at Shinnecock Hills with a classic Scheffler round: calm, patient and close to perfect.Scheffler’s 2-under 68 put him at even par for the tournament, tied for 11th place and seven strokes behind leader Wyndham Clark, with two more rounds to go. If Scheffler wins Sunday, his 30th birthday, he’ll become the seventh player to complete the career Grand Slam.The four-time major champion accomplished a different feat Friday, snapping his streak of 10 U.S. Open rounds without breaking par. Last year at Oakmont, he tied for seventh at 4 over.Scheffler was better and more relaxed from the start on Friday after an animated conversation on the driving range with coach Randy Smith following play Thursday.
He birdied the 10th hole, his first of the day in the U.S. Open’s split-tee format, after shooting par there on Thursday while playing in a morning wave of players that got the brunt of strong winds and tough conditions.Asked how he’d prefer the course be set up for the weekend, Scheffler said: “Doesn’t really matter to me. I just play.”
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