Ludvig Aberg takes US Open lead with eyes on breaking 111-year run

Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg took a one-shot lead into the third round of the US Open on Saturday as he aimed to become the first debut winner for 111 years.

Aberg carded a second round of 69 at Pinehurst for a halfway total of five under par, with Belgium’s Thomas Detry and the American pair of Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay all on four under.

Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau and Matthieu Pavon were a shot further back, with the entire field separated by 10 shots after the cut fell on five over par.

Masters champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler survived on the mark following a birdie-free 74, while former Open champion Francesco Molinari incredibly made a hole-in-one on the ninth – his final hole – to also qualify for the weekend on five over.

The last player to win the US Open on their tournament debut was amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913, but Aberg repeating that feat would come as no great surprise following an extraordinary start to his professional career.