Paul Casey discovered how little it takes to make a big number in the U.S. Open. And at this U.S. Open, he showed how a quick recovery is never too far away.

Casey laid up in the rough, took two chops to get out of more rough behind the 14th green, and staggered away with a triple-bogey 8 that might have ruined his day at Erin Hills. Moments later, he began a run of five straight birdies that put him right where he wanted to be going into the weekend.

Casey finished his wild day with six straight pars for a 1-under 71 to set the target Friday.

He was at 7-under 137, two shots clear of anyone else who played early in warm sunshine on a course that getting dry and crispy.

Rickie Fowler, the 18-hole leader, made an 8-foot birdie on No. 2 and was just getting going.

“Not every day you enjoy a round of golf with an 8 on the card, but I’m a pretty happy man,” Casey said. “Yeah, it was a bit of a roller coaster. I guess it’s rare you get through a U.S. Open or any major without some kind of a hiccup.”

Rory McIlroy and Jason Day never recovered from theirs.

Day, who won the 2015 PGA Championship up the road at Whistling Straits, had to birdie his last hole Thursday to break 80. When it was clear he had nothing going in the second round, he was simply trying to stay out of the way. He shot 75 and missed the cut.