Scribes and analysts were calling for a record-breaking U.S. Open and as Rory McIlroy concluded after completing his second round,
“You must be very good golfers.”
At the time of Friday’s suspension of play due to darkness, the projected numbers of 63 and 64 were nowhere to be found and Billy Horschel and Phil Mickelson were the lone players under par to lead the 113th U.S. Open. Nearly 70 players will resume play Saturday morning to finish their second rounds.
Horschel’s outstanding round of 67 on Friday highlighted the day’s play, as the University of Florida product hit all 18 greens in regulation en route to a two-round score of 1-under, 139. Horschel carded birdies on Nos. 2, 10, 11 and 18 to his one bogey on the short par-3 No. 13 and enjoyed the remainder of the afternoon as the field took on a Merion, which got tougher as the day went on.
Mickelson, who held a one-shot lead over Luke Donald and Matthew Goggin after a first-round 67, carded a 2-over 72 on the day. His sole birdie came on No. 18, pulling him into a tie with Horschel for the tournament lead. The five-time runner-up in the U.S. Open began his second round with another three-putt bogey at the first. Mickelson’s round included some stellar iron play, but a failure to convert birdie putts. Back-to-back bogies on Nos. 12 and 13 were the only other blemishes on his card.
Steve Stricker and Justin Rose carded the only other under-par scores for Round 2 thus far, both shooting 1-under 69. There have only been eight under-par rounds for the tournament. The pair both sit at level par for the tournament, currently placing them in a five-way tie for third. Ian Poulter and amateur Cheng-Tsung Pan are also in the group at level par, and are under par for Round 2, but will have to play four and nine holes, respectively, before completing their scorecards.
Stricker worked his way to a relatively clean score card, posting three birdies and just two bogies. Rose did the same, with two of his birdies coming back-to-back on holes Nos. 1 and 2.
Half the field began play at 7:15 a.m. ET in order to finish their first rounds, only to turn around quickly and begin their second rounds of competition.
Donald started Round 2 on No. 11 and proceeded to card birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 to take the lead at 4-under. But, Donald, sixth in the Official World Golf Rankings, posted a bogey on No. 15, then five more on his final eight holes. Birdies on Nos. 3 and 9 (both par-3s) helped Donald finish the day at even par, where he sits tied for third.
Goggin, tied for second after 18 holes, finished Round 2 with a 74, falling to 2-over for the tournament.
The featured 1-2-3 group of Tiger Woods, McIlroy and Adam Scott faced a fast turnaround, finishing Round 1 at 9:20 a.m. and teeing off Round 2 at 10:44 a.m.
Scott played the final seven holes of Round 1 in five over, taking him from 3-under to 2-over for the tournament. His second round didn’t get much better, as the Masters champ shot a 5-over 75 with his lone birdie coming on No. 13. He is currently 7-over for the round, inside the projected cutline.
Woods performed the most solidly of the trio in the morning, playing the final seven holes in 1-over on the way to a first-round 73. He continued to grind throughout his second round, including several more winces for pain in his left elbow — Woods even shared that he had hurt the elbow back at The Players, where he claimed his fourth victory of the 2013 season.
Woods sat at 4-over, but quickly jumped up the leader board with birdies on both par-5s (Nos. 2 and 4). He held his upgraded position by salvaging par at both Nos. 5 and 8, but a bogey on No. 7 became the only blemish on the way in.
McIlroy also carded rounds of 73-70 and is tied with Woods as they gear up for Round 3 Saturday. McIlroy figuratively limped in during his closing holes of Round One, bogeying three of his final four. He then carded four birdies and four bogies in the second round en route to the even par score.
When Woods and McIlroy turned in their scorecards, they were tied for 29th. With many players still to complete round two, they (along with Ernie Els and three others) are tied for 17th, just four shots off the pace.
The 36-hole cut will be for the top 60 players including ties and is currently projected at 8-over. Notable names outside the cut line include Zach Johnson (11-over), Keegan Bradley (12-over), Nick Watney (12-over) and Graeme McDowell (13-over).
Your Reaction?- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0