2022 U.S. Open: MJ Daffue escapes from hospitality area but it’s downhill from there

After pulling his tee shot on the par-5 14th into a hospitality area, U.S. Open leader MJ Daffue decided it was better to play off the artificial turf than to take a drop in the juicy rough.

Navigating fans, a railing and an overhanging tree, Daffue laced a fairway wood 284 yards, his ball finishing just left of the putting surface.

Seemingly having done the hard part, Daffue then butchered the easier task. The 33-year-old South African chunked his chip shot and then chipped again, his ball rolling out 9 feet past the hole. He missed his par putt and made bogey-6.

With four birdies over his opening nine holes on Friday at The Country Club, Daffue had built a three-shot lead, at 6 under par. A bogey at the 11th cut his advantage to two and he walked off the 14th green up one. Another dropped shot at the 15th erased his outright lead completely. At 3 under par, he shared the top spot with four others who were teeing off in the afternoon.