The US Open 2009 - Round Two
From Bethpage Black Golf Course, New York, The Second Major of 2009
Jun 21, 2009
Conditions remain good for scoring on Saturday as the players complete their second rounds in a rain delayed US Open. The players who have performed well are just desperate to get back out and make the most of the conditions.
Some relatively unknown players are doing that. The fortunate players who landed in the half of the draw not so weather affected have managed 9-12 holes on Friday and have come out to complete their second rounds Saturday morning.
US Open Course Record
American Lucas Glover makes the most significant move in Round two shooting a 64, one of the US Open course record to reach -7. Fellow countryman, Ricky Barnes cards a 65 to top the leader board at -8, breaking the two round record score for a US Open. Major winner, Mike Weir from Canada sits in third at -6, three shots better than David Duval, who recovers from a shaky start in his second round to shoot par and enter the weekend on -3.
The US Open leader board has an unusual feel about it with so many players producing rounds that are well under par. The USGA officials will not be happy that their carefully crafted, savage course with its lightning fast greens has been reduced to a dart board as players are able to attack the pins safe in the knowledge that where the ball lands, it will likely stop close by. This has led to some excellent rounds by some relative unknowns. Azuma Yano from Japan signs for a 65 and is -3 for the championship. Amateur Nick Taylor makes the same score and is -2.
The US Open Leaderboard
As the second half of the draw begins their second round The US Open leaderboard shows there are still only 14 players under par for the championship and it is unlikely any players from the second half of the draw will challenge Barnes, Glover and Weir on -8, -7 and -6 respectively at the top of the leader board. The pressure is really on Tiger Woods and others to first of all make the cut and then put some kind of pressure on the leaders.
Lee Westwood starts very well, birdies on 10,11 and 12 three of the hardest holes on the course. His final putt is a 30 foot double breaker that he only hopes to leave dead for a two putt, but it goes in. Approaching mid round and there would have been long odds on Woods, Cabrera and Harrington all fighting to make the cut.
Rain arrives mid afternoon but is unlikely to threaten play at this time. It does make the run on the ball even less and sets the course up for more target golf. Par has traditionally been good enough to win the US Open. It seems unlikely it will be this year.
Nobody in the afternoon is threatening to catch the leaders, though some reasonable scores are being made and players are getting back to even for the tournament but if it stays like this then it will be down to the top three and whether they drop shots to let others back into the tournament. There are still only 14 players under par for the tournament.
Woods and Cabrera Make the Cut
Woods and Cabrera make the cut comfortably on +2 but Harrington does not after hardly hitting a fairway all day. Lee Westwood forces himself onto the first page of the leader board with a superb 66. Steve Stricker and Geoff Ogilvy have pretty good afternoon rounds too.
See also:
The US Open 2009 - Round Three
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