Sahith Theegala emerged as the standout Indian-origin golfer at the halfway stage of the 2026 U.S. Open, firing a composed three-under 67 on day two to climb from tied-49th overnight to tied-seventh at one-under-par at Shinnecock Hills. His second-round performance was among the finest of the day at one of golf's most demanding venues.

Fellow Indian-origin players Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai also advanced comfortably into the weekend, keeping the Indian-origin contingent firmly in contention as the championship entered its business end.

Theegala's Brilliant Recovery

Theegala's round was a study in patience and precision after an opening-round 72 had left him well off the pace. Starting on the back nine, he birdied the 10th and 12th holes before a bogey on the 15th interrupted his momentum. He responded immediately with a birdie on the 16th, only to give the shot back at the 17th, making the turn at one-under.

On the inward nine, a birdie on the fourth was cancelled by a bogey at the sixth, but Theegala closed spectacularly with back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth to cap a flawless finish. The Californian now sits just six shots behind leader Wyndham Clark, who holds a commanding four-shot advantage at the top.

Bhatia and Rai Hold Their Ground

Akshay Bhatia posted a second successive even-par 70, mixing four birdies with four bogeys to sit at level-par for the tournament in tied-11th — alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. While Bhatia never quite found sustained momentum, his ability to limit errors on one of the toughest courses in championship golf kept him within striking distance.

Aaron Rai produced one of the biggest leaderboard climbs among the Indian-origin group. After an opening 74, the PGA Championship winner rebounded with a superb three-under 67 — featuring five birdies against just two bogeys — to move to tied-22nd at one-over-par, alongside former Shinnecock course record-holder Tommy Fleetwood.

Clark Sets a Shinnecock Record

At the summit, Wyndham Clark continued his dominant form. The 2023 U.S. Open champion completed his suspended first round with two routine pars for a record-opening 64, then added a one-under 69 to reach seven-under 133 — the lowest 36-hole score ever recorded at Shinnecock Hills. A lengthy birdie putt on the 18th stretched his lead to four shots as he chases a second U.S. Open title.

Sharing second place at three-under were 2022 U.S. Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Sam Stevens, and Tom Kim, with Collin Morikawa alone in sixth at two-under. Scheffler, chasing the career Grand Slam, carded a two-under 68 to join Bhatia at even-par, while McIlroy slipped after three consecutive bogeys on the back nine during a round of 71.

Mixed Fortunes for Indian-Origin Field

Not all Indian-origin competitors made it through to the weekend. Sudarshan Yellamaraju finished at five-over-par after rounds of 73 and 72, while Manav Shah — playing in his maiden Major and becoming the first player from the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) to compete in one of golf's four biggest championships — signed for rounds of 73 and 74 to exit at seven-over. Both players gained valuable experience competing under typically exacting U.S. Open conditions.

Among marquee names, defending LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm also missed the cut, with Rahm collapsing to a closing 78 after beginning with a first-round 68. Joaquin Niemann, however, recovered from a two-shot penalty and an opening 78 by firing a brilliant 65 to scrape into the weekend.

With only 10 players under par after 36 holes, Theegala, Bhatia, and Rai will carry Indian-origin hopes into the final two rounds at Shinnecock Hills.