US Open Golf 2016 Leaderboard: Live Updates and Storylines to Watch for Saturday

Give Dustin Johnson plenty of credit for intestinal fortitude. After the disastrous finish at Chambers Bay last year, he could have come into this year's U.S. Open quaking in his golf shoes and hoping he wouldn't fall apart again.

But there was no fear in any part of Johnson's game Friday, as he played 36 holes and shot four under par in the two rounds to move into a tie for first place.

With a strong showing on Saturday, he may be able to put his stamp on this tournament. But before he tees off Saturday afternoon, half the field will play its second round Saturday morning. That will include co-leader Andrew Landry, who fired a four-under 66 in the first round, and Lee Westwood, who shot a 67 in his opening round.

Once all of the Thursday golfers complete their second round, the field will be cut and tee times will be established for Saturday's third round.

Johnson played near-perfect tee-to-green golf Friday, as he struck his driver with overwhelming power and accuracy and honed in on the flag stick with his approach shots.

The only part of his game that did not pay off for him was his putting. Johnson was putting for birdies throughout the round and while he was fairly happy with the way he struck the ball with his putter, very few of his birdie putts found the bottom of the cup. If they had, Johnson would have been able to build a sizable lead.

“Very pleased with how it went today,” Johnson said after his first two rounds, per Michael Whitmer of the Boston Globe. “It was a long day, but I felt like I played really solid for all 36 holes. I drove it really well. Hit a lot of great iron shots. Felt like I rolled the putter really nicely, too.”

When he finally was able to call it a day and leave Oakmont's treacherous layout, he was tied with Andrew Landry, whose solid work Friday was emblematic of his birdie putt on the 18th hole that he rolled in with confidence. 

The golfers who were able to finish their first round of golf Thursday—some of them interrupted three times by significant rain delays—received an unscheduled day off. The players who did not play Thursday competed in their opening round Friday morning and the second round Friday afternoon.

Lee Westwood returned to the course Saturday morning for his second round after shooting a 67 in the first round (including two finishing birdies Friday morning), leaving him one stroke behind the leaders. He was one under par through six holes to move into a tie for the lead, while Landry lost four strokes and finished at even par.

Some of the biggest names on the PGA Tour are playing just to remain alive in the U.S. Open. Jason Day completed his second round Saturday morning and sits at five over par after rounds of 76 and 69. That's likely to be good enough to make the cut. Phil Mickelson, who completed his second round with a score of seven over, is barely inside the projected cut line.

John Minchillo/Associated Press

Rory McIlroy (77) and Rickie Fowler (76) have to show improvement if they are going to avoid being sent home at the end of the second round.

Sergio Garcia is right on the heels of Johnson after shooting 68-70 on Friday. Garcia hit the ball well Friday but like Johnson, he had a tough time converting birdies with his putter. Despite his difficulties with the flat stick overall, Garcia rolled in a 50-foot putt for par on the day's final hole.

A long day of golf is on tap for Saturday, and Westwood, Johnson and Garcia figure to be in the middle of the action.

None of those three golfers have a major championship to their credit, but if they keep playing the way they have started at Oakmont, that could change for one of them.