Tune in at 4:00 PM ET for the third round of the U.S. Open. Gino Bottero will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Welcome everyone! I'll be live blogging the third round of the 112th playing of the United States Open Championship.
This year's Open is being played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California.
Lake Course | Par: 70 | Yardage: 7,170
Tournament Info:
Purse: $8,000,000
Winner's Share: $1,440,000
FedExCup Points: 600
Past Champions:
2011 - Rory McIlroy
2010 - Graeme McDowell
2009 - Lucas Glover
2008 - Tiger Woods
2007 - Angel Cabrera
Round 1 Recap: A beautiful day in San Francisco to get the Open underway. Normally good weather and low-scoring go hand-in-hand at a golf tournament, but there was only one player going low on Thursday. Michael Thompson was 2-over through six holes, then birdied five of the next eight holes, and closed with a birdie on 18 for the day's low round, carding a 4-under 66. He was 3-shots clear of the field through 18 holes, equalling the largest 18-hole lead in U.S. Open history. Five players played at 1-under par. Three birdies and two bogeys on Tiger Woods' card. He had back-to-back birdies on 4 and 5, but followed them with a bogey on 6. He was the first man in at 1-under. Nick Watney was at 3-over par when he reached the Par 5 17th, but he got back to even-par by holing his second shot from the fairway for just the third double-eagle in U.S. Open history. He finished with a 69. Graeme McDowell was able to reach 69 with a birdie-birdie finish. David Toms and Justin Rose round out the group of five players with rounds of 69. Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, and Phil Mickelson combined to shoot 30-over par in the first round.
Round 2 Recap: 17-year-old Beau Hossler tried to steal the show, taking the outright lead at 2-under after a birdie on 1, but there was a trio of former Major champions atop the leaderboard when play concluded on Friday. Three straight bogeys on 5, 6, and 7 led to a 3-over 37 on the front-9 for Tiger Woods, but he responded with birdies on 10 and 13 to card a 70 and remain at 1-under. Eight of the last nine times Tiger's held, or shared, the 36-hole lead at a Major Championship, he's won it. Jim Furyk played the front-9 at 1-under en route to a 69. Furyk was the 36-hole co-leader in 2003 when he won the U.S. Open. David Toms was 2-over through the front-9, but birdied 11 and 13 after the turn for a round of 70. 18-hole leader Michael Thompson had four bogeys and two double-bogeys in a round of 75 to fall back into a tie for 4th at 1-over par. Some notable players missed the cut which was set at 8-over par. World number 1 Luke Donald, World number 2 Rory McIlroy, and defending Masters champion Bubba Watson all failed to make it through to the weekend.
The scoring average in the first round was 74.923. Only six of 156 players finished below-par through 18 holes. Friday's scoring averaged improved to 74.051, while only three players were under par after 36 holes.
Tiger Woods last held the 36-hole lead in 2002 and 2000, winning the tournament each time. Eight of the last nine times he's held, or shared, the 36-hole lead at a Major Championship, he's won it.
Since winning the U.S. Open in 2003, Jim Furyk's round of 69 on Friday was only his second round under-par at this event. Furyk was the 36-hole co-leader in 2003 when he won the U.S. Open.
David Toms has only played three rounds under-par in 48 career U.S. Open rounds. His best U.S. Open finish is T5 in both 2003 and 2007.
Notable Pairings that have yet to tee off:
4:25 PM ET: Els - Rose
5:45 PM ET: McDowell - Colsaerts
5:55 PM ET: Toms - Peterson
6:05 PM ET: Woods - Furyk
Tiger Woods can supplant Rory McIlroy in the second spot in the World Golf Rankings with a win this week, while Lee Westwood can take Luke Donald's spot at the top of the World Golf Rankings with a win.
Today is Phil Mickelson's 42nd birthday. He entered the day at 7-over par.
Let's pick up play on 2 with Lee Westwood.
Par 4 2nd: Lee Westwood with a long look for birdie. He left it high and will tap in for par.
188 yard Par 3 8th: Adam Scott with a solid tee shot that will leave him a tap-in for birdie.
Par 4 11th: 115 yards to the pin for Phil Mickelson on his second shot. He lands his ball past the hole and spins it back to set up a good look for birdie.
Par 5 16th: Rickie Fowler rolls in his long birdie putt to get back to 8-over.
Amatuer Patrick Cantlay in with a round of 71. He's in at 9-over.
Par 4 11th: Phil Mickelson examines his birdie look from every possible angle, knowing he needs to make the putt to get his day going in the right direction. He lipped out on the left side of the cup and tapped in for par. He's 1-over on the day and 8-over on the tournament.
256 yard Par 3 3rd: A 4-iron off the tee for Lee Westwood and his ball slowed to a crawl as it took its first bounce in the fringe. He'll have a long look for birdie.
Par 3 3rd: Lee Westwood left his long birdie attempt right of the hole. He'll tap in for par.
256 yard Par 3 3rd: Olympic Club member and the oldest man in the field Michael Allen on the tee. He missed left of the green and into the sand.
watching this epic showdown from Guatemala! #USOpenby sammyolaya via twitter 6/16/2012 8:02:13 PM
Olympic looking crispy, fast, and ready to deal some damage. #usopenby cdvillasenor via twitter 6/16/2012 8:02:20 PM
Here we go #thirdround #usopenby rbuchanan42 via twitter 6/16/2012 8:02:24 PM
Counting down - 2 hours until @TigerWoods tee time at the #USOpen. Leeggo!by MirandaJEdwards via twitter 6/16/2012 8:05:24 PM
#USOpen looking forward to tonight hope there are some movers and shakers, there must be a good tail in there somewhere!by sportforfun via twitter 6/16/2012 8:05:32 PM
Round 3 of the 112th #USOpen. Another day of laying on the couchby M_adisonSmith via twitter 6/16/2012 8:05:38 PM
Tiger. #Legacy #USOpenby The1Reg via twitter 6/16/2012 8:05:53 PM
One thing I've learned this week, golf could use another Payne Stewart #USOpenby jpgrbdylan via twitter 6/16/2012 8:08:05 PM
This #USOpen has the look and feel of a classic in the making.by KyleKyleKyle_ via twitter edited by Gino Bottero 6/16/2012 8:08:38 PM
The greatest golf tournament in the entire world! #USopenby hjvmartin12 via twitter 6/16/2012 8:08:49 PM
Trying to decide if Johnny Miller or Chris Berman is the more annoying #USOpen announcer. #ToughCallby DonHollywood22 via twitter 6/16/2012 8:16:15 PM
Will be nice watching the #USOPEN today without annoying blowhard Chris Berman ruining it! Ohh wait, Johnny Miller! ehhhhby scuffedballs via twitter 6/16/2012 8:16:23 PM
Only one thing ruining this weekends golf. Johnny Millerby AllanGolds via twitter 6/16/2012 8:16:36 PM
It's always windy here half the time? That doesn't sound right #USOpenby Bruce_Lee20 via twitter 6/16/2012 8:16:55 PM
Johnny Miller says easier pin positions today at #USOpen Yeah Right Guys will shoot +3 instead of +4by tolohgolfr via twitter 6/16/2012 8:20:54 PM
Hosler looks to be a great talent but that's a horrible hat! #USOpenby DPMBen via twitter 6/16/2012 8:21:08 PM
Beautiful day for the #USOpen #olympicclubby LLaBrosse via twitter 6/16/2012 8:24:28 PM
Bloody hell these greens are quick! #USOpenby gibbsy23 via twitter 6/16/2012 8:24:39 PM
First three groups have made it in in under four hours. Lets see if that lasts through the final group at the #USOpenby kev_currie via twitter 6/16/2012 8:24:47 PM
I can't wait for tiger to swagg out tonight, and someone needs to teach Ricky fowler how to putt #USOpenby DJvogan7 via twitter 6/16/2012 8:30:30 PM
If this hossler kid breaks 80 I will be surprised. #USOpen #pressureby Mc_clutch via twitter 6/16/2012 8:30:41 PM
