Steady as you go — that was the word from Tiger Woods as he stalked the leaders at the halfway stage of the United States Open.
The world number one has not been firing on all cylinders at the treacherous Oakmont layout, but he has been workmanlike. Going into the weekend, he is on five-over par 145, just five strokes behind leader Angel Cabrera.
Woods admits he has had to battle hard over the first 36 holes, but he is happy with his position and the way he is playing as he seeks a third US Open crown and a 13th major title at the age of 31.
”It’s a fun challenge; this is the US Open, it’s going to be tough and you have to grind away,” he said after his four-over second round of 74. ”I’ve won this championship before and you have to be patient. That’s the fun part of it. It’s so different to any other tournament we ever play in.”
Woods hit off from the 10th hole and he quickly dropped a stroke at the 11th when he left his chip badly short and missed the ensuing long putt.
But he immediately grabbed one back at the monster par-five 12th where he reached the green in regulation and confidently rolled in his birdie putt.
Bogeys at the 15th and 18th saw him reach the turn in two over 37.
On the front nine, two further bogeys from Woods had him looking perplexed as the playing conditions, especially on the greens, became more and more difficult with the sun and warm wind drying out the surfaces.
A birdie at the par-three sixth was followed by his fifth bogey of the round at the next, but he parred the tough two closing holes to leave himself handily placed for the weekend, which he will start in the company of first-round leader Nick Dougherty of Britain.
Woods said that how the weekend evolves will depend on two factors — how much the golf course is watered and how difficult the pin placements are made.
There is no rain forecast for Saturday and only a slight chance of showers on Sunday, so Oakmont will almost certainly be at its most devilish. Woods said that depending on the two factors, it could be well nigh unplayable.
”It’s close [to being unfair],” he said in reply to a question. ”It’s right on the edge, I think. The first green — thank God I have spikes on because I think I could have slipped right off the track.” — Sapa-AFP