Open champion Colin Morikawa is five points behind Joel Damen after a superb second round of 66, with reigning US Open champion John Ram and four-time grand winner Rory McIlroy trailing.
Masters champion Scotty Scheffler was part of the group with one more blow to the back, with Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick at three less than the pace at two less.
McIlroy was in danger of falling out of the competition when he overtook the top nine in 36, with world number three needing three attempts to get green from a solid rough of the third before breaking through 23 feet to save double-handedness.
But after missing a shot on the 10th, McIlroy took shots on the 12th, 14th and 17th to stay firmly on the hunt for his fifth major title and first since 2014 US PGA.
Scheffler finished with two points after seven holes, but then scored in the eighth and 13th, threw from 55 yards for an eagle on par-five on the 14th and took another shot on the 16th in his race for an incredible fifth victory. in 2022
“I was just really patient,” Scheffler said. “I hit him well most of the day. Two stupid tapas at the beginning of the round, but beyond that I hit very well.
“If a few more punches were to fall against (running) around the edge, it would be a really special day. But three lows was a good result for me, especially as I had two over six.”
Speaking of his eagle on the 14th, Scheffler added: “I hit a great drive in the middle and then lied about something fun when he was sitting on a slope and that made this hit in the green a lot harder.
“I caught him by the hair and hit the tree. Fortunately, he didn’t hit the tree and didn’t go back, he just fell in front of it. I lied well and hit a good chip and he came in.”
Fitzpatrick has recovered from a godsend hat-trick to play his last five holes to two fewer as he seeks a double in Brooklyn following his 2013 amateur triumph in the United States.
“I played really, really well,” said Fitzpatrick, who was fifth in the U.S. PGA last month. “Three of my four punches had three strokes, so that sums up the day.
“I felt like I hit the ball to the green really, really well. I think I hit a chip all day, so that sums up how good I felt, like I hit it. I feel like I’ve left a few there, which is pretty rare to say at the US Open, but it’s positive over the weekend. “
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