US Open leaderboard
Graeme McDowell was raised to the challenge of the US Open on 15th june in San Francisco.The 2010 champion – he was the first European winner of the title since Tony Jacklin in 1970 – moved into second place on his own with back-to-back birdies at the Olympic Club.McDowell found the target from nearly 30 feet at the short 15th, his seventh hole of the second round, and when a 12-footer went in on the next – reduced from 670 yards to 609 – he was up to two under par.For Rory McIlroy, who kept the trophy in Northern Irish hands last year, and world number one Luke Donald, however, it was all about trying to survive the halfway cut.And things were still not looking good for either of them as they covered the back nine in 37 and 38 respectively.Donald knew he had a mountain to climb when he resumed in 140th place after a bitterly disappointing 79.As he entered the feared opening six-hole stretch, Donald remained in a tie for 140th and at 10 over he probably needed to find three more birdies just to have a chance of contesting the weekend.Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, who teed off again one under and level par, both dropped a stroke at the 428-yard second and when Rose also bogeyed the fifth – his first three shots all finished in deep rough – they were both one over and joint 12th.Lee Westwood, playing with Donald and McIlroy in a clash of the world’s top three, was only one behind them – and one under for the day – until he bogeyed the 18th.McDowell, whose victory two years ago came down the Californian course at Pebble Beach, had said after his opening 69: “I’ve always enjoyed the US Open, even before I won.”It really rewards placement off the tee, just hanging tough, staying patient, placing your iron shots, chipping, putting. Really it’s golf’s toughest test.”He did more than that, but the hardest holes were still to come.“Seven over’s a big hole for any player,” McDowell said.Tiger Woods, who matched the first day 69s of McDowell and Rose, was another afternoon starter and was doubtless hoping the wind did not pick up too much.
