In an exciting turn of events at the U.S. Open, Ludvig Åberg briefly took the lead during the second round of the tournament. The 24-year-old Swedish golfer made a birdie at the second hole, bringing him into a tie with Patrick Cantlay at the top of the leaderboard. Åberg's impressive performance reaffirms his potential as a rising star in the golfing world.

However, Åberg's reign at the top was short-lived as Cantlay quickly responded with a remarkable 21-foot putt at the sixth hole, elevating him to 6-under par. Cantlay's outstanding shot propelled him back into a three-way tie for the lead, this time joined by Matthieu Pavon, a French golfer who started his round with two consecutive birdies.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods, the world's top-ranked golfer, faced a challenging day on the course. After an underwhelming first round, Woods needed a strong performance to avoid missing the cut. Although he managed to secure a birdie at the fourth hole, he still sits at 3-over par for the tournament and is now at risk of failing to advance to the weekend.

Other notable highlights from the second round included Sepp Straka's impressive hole-in-one and Sahith Theegala's exceptional birdie. Additionally, the projected cutline currently sits at +3, with 61 players teetering on the edge. If two players drop a stroke, the cutline could potentially move to +4, providing hope for golfers like Wyndham Clark, Keegan Bradley, and the legendary Tiger Woods.

The challenging nature of Pinehurst No. 2 came into focus as players navigated the course. Rory McIlroy emphasized the need for strategic thinking and precise shot placement due to the course's demanding nature. Even a great drive, like McIlroy's on the eighth hole, required careful consideration of the hole's layout to successfully land the ball in the desired position.

As the morning wave of players wraps up their rounds, the leaderboard at Pinehurst remains in a state of flux. Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, and Matthieu Pavon find themselves in a three-way tie for the lead, showcasing the competitive nature of the tournament. With each passing hole, the intensity grows as golf's finest strive to secure their positions for the weekend.

The U.S. Open continues to captivate fans with thrilling performances, unexpected twists, and the intriguing possibility of established stars like Tiger Woods missing the cut. Golf enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome of the second round as the battle for the prestigious title heats up at Pinehurst.