Spicy weekend at LACC?

Rickie Fowler on the fifth hole during the second round Chris Keane, USGA

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA | Like the famous Southern California sunshine, the U.S. Open was slow to arrive at Los Angeles Country Club.

It has, however, come creeping in on little Gucci-loafered feet behind the gates and walls of this ultra-exclusive piece of golf land where, for this week only, short pants and cellphones are allowed in public view.

If the first round felt like a Thursday at the American Express Championship in Palm Springs 100 miles to the east, the second round Friday of this national championship began to rub the sleep out of its eyes. It didn’t jump to attention like someone who overslept, but Dustin Johnson signaled things were different when he made a quadruple-bogey 8 on his second hole while coffee was still brewing.

For those who have come looking for carnage, the USGA has gone more Frank Capra than Quentin Tarantino thus far though the promise of a sunn...