Pinehurst, North Carolina, United States: Two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) winner Hideki Matsuyama soared into title contention at the US Open with a four-under-par propelling him into solo eighth place at the half-way stage.

The 2021 Masters Tournament champion fired the day’s low round, featuring four birdies without a bogey, to sit on two-under 138 at Pinehurst No 2, three strokes behind pace-setting Swede Ludvig Aberg.

Aberg shot a 69 and holds a one-stroke lead on 135 from Bryson DeChambeau (69), Thomas Detry (67) and Patrick Cantlay (71). Rory McIlroy, seeking a fifth career Major and first in 10 years, is among those on 137 following a 72.

Korean Tom Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner and former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, racked up five birdies against three bogeys for a 68 and a 139 total as he looks to improve on last year’s eighth place finish in the third Major of 2024.

Compatriots SH Kim and Kim Si-woo posted matching 72s and are tied 21st and equal 37th respectively.

No Asian player has won the US Open since its inception in 1895 – a statistic that nine-time PGA Tour winner Matsuyama, and Kim will aim to put right over the weekend.

The 32-year-old Matsuyama, who was joint runner-up at Erin Hills in 2017 for his best US Open finish, credited his short game for his rise up the leaderboard in one of the toughest tests of the year.

“I feel it’s a great test for all the players. I felt like I was playing really well today,” said the Japanese, whose victory in February’s Genesis Invitational made him the Asian player with the most wins on the PGA Tour.

He added: “It’s very difficult, obviously. I really had difficulty on this golf course, but I managed to save par a few times. Hopefully, I can keep that momentum through the weekend.

“My short game was on point today, and that really helped my overall performance. I still need to make some adjustments to my iron game, and hopefully, I can do that throughout the weekend.”

Matsuyama's brilliant iron play was evident as he notched a hat-trick of birdies from the third hole after starting his day from the 10th. “The third and fourth, it was great shots and great putts. I had really good momentum. On the fifth, I hit the tee shot left. I was able to recover from there. It was about a 10-foot birdie putt. It was really good flow.”

Kim, who is competing in his seventh straight week, intends to keep his foot on the pedal in his chase for Major glory. The 21-year-old enjoyed a season’s first top-10 at the RBC Canadian Open a few weeks ago, and is aiming to improve on his 23rd place finish on his US Open debut in 2022 and tied for eighth last season. He feels up to the severe test at Pinehurst.

“I’m really pleased to have shot under par. This course brings out the best in you, both mentally and skill-wise. I did a really good job staying grounded and fought well,” said Kim, whose best Major finish was a tied second at last year’s Open Championship.

He birdied the fourth, fifth and seventh on his inward nine to ensure a late tee time on Saturday.

“I think I just enjoy it (the US Open). It’s a tough test. I think what I really appreciate about it is you’ve got to be mentally tough. As good as you need to be skill set-wise, mentally and physically you’ve just got to be there all the time.”

Just one year after turning professional, 24-year-old Aberg continued to dazzle, adding a 69 to his opening 66 to take a one-shot lead over Belgium’s Detry and the American pair of DeChambeau and Cantlay. Aberg has positioned himself potentially to be the first player to win the US Open on debut since Francis Ouimet in 1913.

“I think a US Open is supposed to be hard. It’s supposed to be tricky, and it’s supposed to challenge every aspect of your game,” said Aberg. “And I feel like it’s doing that. But I’ve been super fortunate with the way that things have turned out over the last couple days. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep it up.”

Joining Matsuyama among ex-AAC participants to make the cut were Australians Min Woo Lee (tied 27th, 142) and Cameron Smith (tied 37th, 143), Korean Kim Si-woo (tied 37th, 143) and New Zealander Ryan Fox (tied 57th, 145).

Failing to progress to the weekend were Australian Cam Davis and Singapore amateur Hiroshi Tai (both 149) and Japan’s Takumi Kanaya (150).