Defending U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell went into the clubhouse two strokes back of the lead on Thursday. He shot a 70 on the par 71 course at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, putting him at -1 for the day. 

Five other golfers went into the clubhouse tied with McDowell, including Stewart Cink and Davis Love III. He trails Y.E. Yang, who leads the pack at -3, and Louis Oosthuizen and Ryan Palmer, who both sit at -2. 

McDowell overcame a bogey on the first hole with birdies on two, a par-3, and six, a par-5. He then parred every hole on the back nine. 

McDowell hopes to become the first golfer to win back-to-back U.S. Open championships since Curtis Strange did it in 1988 and 1989. Last year the Northern Ireland native became the first United Kingdom native to win the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin of England won it in 1970.