Friday 17 June 2016 22:42, UK
Dustin Johnson is the man to beat at the US Open at Oakmont, says Sky expert Butch Harmon.
I think it has been really interesting to see how many of the really good players have shot high scores.
I don't think the course could have been any easier than how it has been over the past two days, and yet we see some of the best players finishing well over par. It just shows you what can happen on a golf course that is difficult.
I really think Dustin Johnson has probably played the last three months better than anybody in the world.
I watched Rory in a practice round on Tuesday playing with Rickie Fowler and thought he struggled a little bit with his swing there. It didn't show any indication of him posting a 77 though, which just shows you how difficult this course is.
If you get just a little out of position out here you can't handle it, regardless of how good your short game is. You have to play this course from the fairways and if you do that, the course is in such good shape you have a good chance of shooting a decent score.
We've already seen the course officials cutting and flattening the greens with the holing irons, so I predicted them to be at least a couple of feet faster over the weekend.
The thing Andrew Landry has got against him that he finished his round so early in the day. He doesn't play again until Saturday, which means he has to sit being the clubhouse leader for a second night running. I recommend he takes a sleeping pill, has a stiff drink and tries to relax!
I really think Dustin Johnson has probably played the last three months better than anybody in the world. He struggles on Sundays, where he cards his highest scoring average of the four rounds almost every week.
He has got to come up with a way to make more putts on Sunday, as he just doesn't seem to putt on the final round as well as he does Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
This golf course is tailor-made for him, because if he wants to drive the ball he can do so very well and has an advantage.
He doesn't have to do that though, because he can still fire his 3-wood or driving irons 300 yards anyway. We've still got the weekend to figure it out, but to me DJ looks like the guy to beat.
Four under par may be the first round lead, but I think something around four over will be the winning score come the end of the tournament. It's going to be interesting to see what happens over the days ahead.
Watch the US Open throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Saturday from 1.30pm.
