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Woods Battles to Share of US Open Lead
Off-Form McIlroy, Donald Fail Olympic Test
High-School Teen Takes US Open by Storm
Woods Battles to Share of US Open Lead
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2012 (AFP) - Tiger Woods wrested an even-par 70 from an unforgiving Olympic Club course on Friday to seize a share of the US Open second-round lead alongside Jim Furyk and David Toms.
On a day when the testing conditions saw names rise and fall on the leaderboard in the blink of an eye, with even 17-year-old amateur Beau Hossler briefly taking the lead, it was a trio of battle-tested veterans who topped the leaderboard on 139 -- the one-under total making them the only players under par after two rounds.
Woods, of course, is a 14-time major champion, while Furyk won the 2003 US Open and Toms won the 2001 USPGA Championship.
Olympic's Lake Course, with its small, sloping greens firming up minute by minute in the sunshine and crisp breezes of the afternoon, made Woods work for the share of the lead he regained after birdies at the 10th and 13th.
At the par-five 16th, he saved par from a bunker, where he popped out to about 15 feet despite an awkward stance.
At the par-five 17th, his approach rolled like a rocket through the green and down a steep bank at the back.
He spun his third shot up to about 10 feet and two-putted for par.
At 18 he was again in the fairway, but from there found the front greenside bunker. He blasted out and made his par-saving putt.
"That was not easy," Woods said. "Just had to stay as patient as possible and I did a really good job of that today."
Furyk made his way methodically around the 7,170-yard course to a one-under 69, while Toms posted a 70.
"I feel good about the score," Furyk said. "I kept the ball in the fairway pretty well... I feel solid and in control so far."
Furyk, who teed off on nine, rattled in a putt at the par-four seventh for the last of his three birdies on the day.
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, winner of the US Open at nearby Pebble Beach two years ago, started the day in a group with Woods sharing second on one-under.
Playing alongside Furyk, he moved as low as two-under but bogeyed three of his last four for a two-over 72 that left him on one-over 141.
"Disappointed to bogey three of the last four today,' McDowell said. "But that's what this golf course can do to you in a heartbeat."
McDowell was joined at one-over by Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, the Volvo World Match Play Champion who carded a 69, American John Peterson (70) and overnight leader Michael Thompson, who surrendered his lead with a bogey and double-bogey at his third and fourth holes -- the 11th and 12th -- and finished with two double-bogeys in a 75.
McDowell, a fan of testing US Open conditions, said the course was fast but fair -- but certainly no fun.
"My day was as equally un-enjoyable as yesterday," he said. "It's just a brutal test of golf."
Woods, seeking his first major title since he hobbled to a playoff victory at the 2008 US Open, sent a jolt of electricity around the course when he jumped to the top of the leaderboard with a birdie at the par-three third.
But he strung together three straight bogeys from the fifth, his ball at the sixth hanging up in dense rough on the lip of a bunker and leaving him an awkward shot out.
After finding a bunker at the 288-yard par-four seventh, Woods ended up three-putting for a costly bogey on a hole that should have offered a birdie chance.
"I knew that pin was dicey," Woods said of the seventh. "The practice rounds I had run that putt by... and I still missed it on the low side and it ran out and I missed the second putt."
Woods moved back to one-under after birdies at 10 and 13.
His mis-cues on the front nine had opened the door for Hossler, who followed a birdie at 18 with a rare birdie at the 520-yard, par-four first to move atop the leaderboard.
Whether it was the excitement of seeing his name atop the leaderboard or the sheer difficulty of the course, the California high school student promptly bogeyed the second, and added a double bogey at the fourth.
His three-over 73 gave him a share of ninth, all the more impressive given the elite names that were laid low by the Lake Course.
Four-time major champion Phil Mickelson appeared to have done enough to make the cut, a birdie at 18 giving him a 71 for seven-over 147.
Masters champion Bubba Watson had two birdies in the last four holes for a 71, but that left him at nine-over and likely to be heading home.
England's Luke Donald, the world number one who topped both the US and European tour money lists last season, was destined to miss the halfway cut as he followed a first-round 79 with a 72 for an 11-over total of 151.
Donald, who has missed the cut twice in eight prior US Open starts, remains in search of his first major title.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy carded a 73 for 150, finding the course carved into the side of a hill between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Merced, a world away from the rain-softened Congressional course where he marched to a record-setting US Open triumph last year.
Off-Form McIlroy, Donald Fail Olympic Test
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2012 (AFP) - From the sublime to the sorry - what a difference a year at the US Open has made for Rory McIlroy.
Twelve months ago he was the toast of world golf after producing one of the finest tournament performances in major history, winning the US Open at Congressional by eight strokes with a record low 16-under par total of 268.
On Friday his crown crashed to the ground as he followed up a dismal opening round of 77 with a 73 to stand at 10 over for the tournament. That meant he had missed the cut -- for the fourth time in five tournaments.
The 23-year-old Ulsterman battled gamely in the once-again testing conditions at The Olympic Club's Lake Course, a brute of a layout carved into the eastern slope of a massive sand dune near the northern tip of the San Francisco peninsula.
But with birdies a rarity, he never looked like producing one of the bursts of sub-par golf that he is capable of on most courses.
McIlroy insisted that he had played better than his score suggested, it was just that the course was such a conundrum for many of the players.
"I think the thing is that we're just not used to playing this sort of golf course week in, week out," he said. "You have to adapt and you have to adjust. "We're not used to having to land balls before the edge of the greens to let them run on.
"And it's just something that you just have to adjust to in this tournament, and I wasn't able to do that very well this week."
McIlroy will have plenty sympathy and understanding from playing partner Luke Donald.
The world number one continued his misery at the majors by firing a two-over 72, creditable enough, but nowhere near what he required to make the weekend following the humbling 79 that left him ruefully shaking his head on Thursday.
Many thought the exacting course here, which requires laser-like precision off the tee and the deftist of touches around and on the greens, would be right up Donald's street. Instead he looked all at sea.
"I think I missed nine putts inside 10 feet yesterday and just couldn't get the feel for the greens, the reads, the speed," the Englishman said.
"And if I had putted a little bit better yesterday I could have ground out a score today and maybe been somewhere decently placed for the weekend.
"But it wasn't to be and I'm trying to learn from it and come back stronger next time."
Asked if his inability to win a major title was starting to weigh on him, especially with so many first-time winners popping up, Donald agreed it was not getting any easier.
"Certainly that's the one part of my golfing resume in the last few years that I need to continually address and continually improve.
"I want to win one more than any of you guys know. And obviously I'll continue to try and do that."
There was one consolation on Friday for Donald though with the news from London that he had been awarded an MBE in he Queen's birthday honours list for his services to British golf.
"I am truly honoured to be awarded an MBE by Her Majesty -- particularly in her jubilee year," Donald said.
"Both 2011 and 2012 have been very significant years for me, both personally and professionally, and I am touched that my accomplishments have been recognised in this way."
Next up for Donald and McIroy will be preparations for the British Open being held at Royal Lytham in Lancashire next month, but neither will be too confident about that.
Donald has just the one top 10 finish in 11 previous attempts at The Open, while McIlroy shocked many last year at windy, rainy Royal St George's by saying that he much preferred playing in US sunshine.
High-School Teen Takes US Open by Storm
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2012 (AFP) - High-school amateur takes lead in US Open with Tiger Woods trailing in his wake may be the stuff of dreams for most youngsters, but for 17-year-old Beau Hossler it became a reality on Friday.
The chubby Californian with braces on his teeth stunned the galleries at The Olympic Club when he birdied the 1st hole - the 11th of his round - and suddenly he was ahead of the field, including the biggest name in world sport.
It didn't last that long as a bogey at the second and a double bogey two holes later drew him back to the chasing back.
Still by the end of the day he come in with a 73 to go with his opening 70 and he comfortably made the cut for two more rounds at the weekend.
Hossler admitted that finding himself leading the US Open had been an experience.
"I was pretty excited about it, but then again I had another 40 holes at least to be playing in the tournament," he said.
"You've got a long way to go and you can't get too wrapped up on where you're at.
"You've got to keep focused and try to go out there and salvage some pars on the first six holes, which is pretty difficult to do."
Asked what he would have said if someone had told him as a golf fan that a 17-year-old kid would be leading the US Open, Hossler replied: "I would probably tell them they're nuts."
Hossler though is no ordinary 17-year-old golfer.
He has been something of a golfing prodigy for years down in his San Diego home and was the world junior champion in 2011.
He also qualified for last year's US Open at Congressional and at 16 was the youngest player in the field, eventually missing the cut.
He was set to be the youngest player again this year until 14-year-old Andy Zhang of China got a late callup on Monday.
This time he has made it through to the weekend and he is determined to make the most of it.
"There's some things I've really got to tighten up for the next couple days because I know the course is going to get harder," he said.
"I feel like I'm in a good spot for me to reach my goal of low amateur. Then again I want to make sure I'm playing the best that I can and with the whole field and everything as well."
Asked what he had found to be particularly attractive and gratifying about competing in the US Open this week Hossler replied: "I find this kind of weird, but the free dry cleaning, that's pretty sweet."
Whatever happens at the weekend Hossler said he is fixed on what he will be doing over the next few years - studying and playing golf at the University of Texas.
Scores on Friday in the second round of the US Open golf championship at The Olympic Club's 7,170-yard, par-70 Lake Course (a-amateur)
139 - Jim Furyk (USA) 70-69, Tiger Woods (USA) 69-70, David Toms (USA) 69-70
141 - John Peterson (USA) 71-70, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 72-69, Graeme McDowell (NIR) 69-72, Michael Thompson (USA) 66-75
142 - Blake Adams (USA) 72-70
143 - Aaron Watkins (USA) 72-71, Hunter Mahan (USA) 72-71, Matt Kuchar (USA) 70-73, Jason Dufner (USA) 72-71, a-Beau Hossler (USA) 70-73, Rapahel Jacquelin (FRA) 72-71, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 73-70, K.J. Choi (KOR) 73-70
144 - Charlie Wi (KOR) 74-70, Nick Watney (USA) 69-75, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 73-71, Justin Rose (ENG) 69-75, Steve Stricker (USA) 76-68, Ernie Els (RSA) 75-69, J.B. Park (KOR) 70-74, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 74-70
145 - John Senden (AUS) 72-73, Lee Westwood (ENG) 73-72, Martin Kaymer (GER) 74-71, Ian Poulter (ENG) 70-75, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 76-69, Kevin Chappell (USA) 74-71, Jason Bohn (USA) 70-75, Kevin Na (USA) 74-71, Branen Grace (RSA) 71-74, Retief Goosen (RSA) 75-70, Webb Simpson (USA) 72-73, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 70-75
146 - Morgan Hoffmann (USA) 72-74, Jason Day (AUS) 75-71, Darron Stiles (USA) 75-71, Scott Langley (USA) 76-70, Jonathan Byrd (USA) 71-75, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 75-71, Adam Scott (AUS) 76-70, Keegan Bradley (USA) 73-73, K.T. Kim (KOR) 74-72
147 - Alex Cejka (GER) 78-69, Phil Mickelson (USA) 76-71, Stephen Ames (CAN) 74-73, Davis Love (USA) 73-74, Zach Johnson (USA) 77-70, Bob Estes (USA) 74-73, Rod Pampling (AUS) 74-73
148 - Jeff Curl (USA) 73-75, Nicholas Thompson (USA) 74-74, Casey Wittenberg (USA) 71-77, Simon Dyson (ENG) 74-74, a-Jordan Spieth (USA) 74-74, Angel Cabrera (ARG) 72-76, Rickie Fowler (USA) 72-76, Jesse Mueller (USA) 75-73, Steve Lebrun (USA) 73-75, Mathew Baldwin (ENG) 74-74, Joe Ogilvie (USA) 73-75, a-Patrick Cantlay (USA) 76-72
149 - Casey Martin (USA) 74-75, Joe Durant (USA) 78-71, Bill Haas (USA) 76-73, Lucas Glover (USA) 76-73, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 77-72, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 71-78, Dustin Johnson (USA) 75-74, Martin Laird (SCO) 77-72, Lee Slattery (ENG) 79-70, Brian Harmen (USA) 77-72, Roberto Castro (USA) 75-74, Justin Hicks (USA) 75-74, a-Alberto Sanchez (USA) 72-77, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 78-71, Bubba Watson (USA) 78-71, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 74-75, Carl Pettersson (SWE) 75-74, Charles Howell (USA) 72-77, Mark Wilson (USA) 76-73, Y.E. Yang (KOR) 74-75
150 - Jim Herman (USA) 78-72, Chez Reavie (USA) 80-70, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 75-75, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 77-73, Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 76-74, Ben Crane (USA) 77-73, Martin Flores (USA) 71-79, Scott Piercy (USA) 75-75, Kyle Stanley (USA) 73-77
151 - Peter Lawrie (IRL) 74-77, Olin Browne (USA) 77-74, Gary Woodland (USA) 74-77, Luke Donald (ENG) 79-72, Anders Hansen (DEN) 72-79, Spencer Levin (USA) 74-77, Brendan Jones (AUS) 76-75, Tim Herron (USA) 74-77, Tim Clark (RSA) 77-74, Toru Taniguchi (JPN) 78-73
152 - Stewart Cink (USA) 77-75, Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 75-77, Samuel Osborne (USA) 76-76
153 - William Lunde (USA) 81-72, David Mathis (USA) 78-75, Michael Campbell (NZL) 79-74, Tadahiro Takayama (JPN) 77-76, James Hahn (USA) 73-80, Shane Bertsch (USA) 78-75, Tommy Biershenk (USA) 74-79, Matt Bettencourt (USA) 76-77, Colt Knost (USA) 75-78, George Coetzee (RSA) 78-75, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 75-78, Robert Rock (ENG) 75-78
154 - a-Cameron Wilson (USA) 77-77, Aaron Baddeley (AUS) 75-79, a-Brooks Koepka (USA) 77-77, Kyle Thompson (USA) 82-72
155 - Trevor Immelman (RSA) 80-75, Hunter Haas (USA) 81-74, Brice Garnett (USA) 78-77, Brian Gaffney (USA) 77-78
157 - Andy Zhang (CHN) 79-78
158 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 81-77
160 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 85-75
161 - Dennis Miller (USA) 80-81
162 - Steve Marino (USA) 84-78
168 - Brian Rowell (USA) 86-82