The U.S. Open is in full swing as Saturday action starts and Phil Mickelson is in control at Merion after having a solid first two days and Tiger Woods is chasing after putting in an even round for a score of three over par and also dealing with a possible wrist injury.
Woods entered the tournament as the favorite after the way he has played and Mickelson started off his second round with a bogey to fall back a bit. Woods hasn't won a major since 2008 when he won the US Open in a playoff and now he will have to storm back to even get the chance at sniffing the title. Saturday play will be a huge deal for Woods, as that will be his last chance to get back into things after playing poorly on the rain soaked course. Woods was playing with Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy in an all-star grouping, but the three have not played up to snuff, as McIlroy and Woods are tied at 28 with a three over par, while Scott is eight over after a rough day of plus six on Friday.
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The all-star pairing was a dud and all three players struggled on the tough Merion course and the weather has been a big factor for many looking for birdies, as many golfers struggled with bogeys and the harsh terrain and layout. Woods had four birdies and four bogeys and he finished the day with three straight pars before getting another birdie and he takes a score of 143 into the third round on Saturday. Depending on how things go, Woods could get himself back in the tournament, but based on the start, his major streak may continue for a bit.
Luke Donald got off to a good start before falling off and Woods was hurt by the weather on the first day, as he only had 10 holes finished before the rains came. Woods was up early on Friday and finished the first round with a 3-over-par 73 on Friday and he continued that into the second round after finishing with an even round. Woods had a bad stretch that saw him sink four bogeys through 11 holes on Thursday and he played fairly well over the tough back stretch. Woods has won four times on tour this season after taking the Farmers Insurance Open, WGC Cadillac Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship, but so far at the Us Open, things have not gone so well.
Woods is still the favorite and McIlroy should get some love too, but the number one golfer in the world will have all the attention once again as the championship begins and many feel that this is his best shot in years to take a major after the way he has been playing. Woods looked good at the Masters apart from his drop controversy and still managed to finish in the top five, he should do that again at Merion. So far it hasn't gone as well as expected, but he remains within striking distance as the weekend approaches.