Graeme McDowell emerged from a tightly packed field to snatch the early clubhouse lead in the US Open on Friday while several top players battled with the challenging Pebble Beach course.
The Northern Irishman sank two monster birdie putts in a round of 68 that put him at three-under-par, two strokes ahead of a chasing pack that included the unflappable South African Ernie Els and Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa. Big-hitting Dustin Johnson, who won the last two regular PGA Tour events at Pebble Beach, led the American charge as Tiger Woods struggled on the same course he ripped up a decade ago when he won the US Open by a record 15 shots.
It was partly because of Woods’s runaway victory in 2000 that tournament organisers decided to toughen up the layout for this year’s championship by tightening fairways, extending the rough and building more bunkers to add to the unique natural hazards of the surrounding beaches and cliffs.
Woods shot a 72 despite struggling off the tee and with his putter. It was well off his best but was two shots better than his opening round 74 when he failed to make a single birdie.
He finished the day seven shots behind McDowell and, while he has never won a major from that far back, the world number one was still talking up his chances of a 15th major.
Atwal misses cut
The turnaround that Arjun Atwal needed did not happen as he missed the cut at the US Open after carding a disastrous four-over 75 for the second successive day here.
The Orlando-based pro signed off with a total of eight-over 150. — Agencies