OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. - A 36-hole U.S. Open scoring record fell Friday. Why not the 18-hole record?
Vijay Singh tied the record of 63, and Woody Austin had a chance before finishing with 6-under-par 64 Friday at Olympia Fields Country Club. The record is shared by Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Singh.
"I had no idea, honestly, no clue whatsoever," said Austin, 39, a Tampa native who opened the tournament with 74. "I was simply going through my mode of trying to get back in the game. I was trying to get back in the tournament."
Austin, who lives in Wichita, Kan., had four three-putt greens in his first round and had another to start the second round at the 10th hole before rattling off seven birdies through 15 holes. He had birdie chances at each of the last three holes but settled for pars. Austin finished at 2-under 138, five back of leaders Singh and Jim Furyk.
The 1995 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Austin struggled most of the past few seasons. But this year he has missed one cut in 15 PGA Tour events and lost in a playoff to Davis Love at the MCI Heritage. He has earned more than $1-million this year.
"I think this is definitely my best venue, the harder the better, because I feel like it's not a putting contest as far as making a lot of birdies," he said.
FAMILIAR FEELING: Nick Price was touched by the support shown for Tom Watson and his caddie, Bruce Edwards, who has ALS. A similar thing happened to him.
Price's caddie, Jeff "Squeaky" Medlin, died in 1997 of leukemia. He caddied for Price in his 1992 PGA Championship victory and his 1994 British Open and PGA titles. Medlin also was on John Daly's bag for Daly's 1991 PGA Championship victory. Price missed that tournament for the birth of one of his children, and his spot in the field went to Daly.
"I can certainly relate to what they're going through," Price said after 5-under 65 moved him into contention. "And it's very hard. I can't say I knew when Squeak got sick that he was going to die, but halfway through his illness things weren't looking very good. And the thing that's very hard is your player-caddie relationship is such a close one. He and Bruce have been together since 1973.
"They've shared so many wonderful moments, not only in winning championships but also as friends and companions. And you're spending seven or eight hours with your caddie each day when you're playing. It adds up to an awful lot of time, where you discuss so many issues. I can understand the emotion they went through."
BACK TO EARTH: A day after 65 put him in a tie for the lead, Watson struggled to 2-over 72, four behind the leaders in a tie for eighth.
"You are going to have a stretch in 72 holes that you can't let get to you, and that stretch, I hope, has seen me today and has passed me by," Watson said. "I made some good swings coming in, even though I bogeyed the last hole. Maybe that stretch has passed me by."
MAKING A MOVE: Tiger Woods gave himself a chance to defend his title with 66 and moved into a tie for fifth, three back.
Among the highlights was a 3-wood second shot at the 555-yard, par-5 sixth hole that Woods sliced around a tree and onto the green. The ball slid by the cup and stopped 10 feet away, from where he missed the eagle putt. He settled for birdie.
"I feel pretty good," he said. "Any time you're under par at a U.S. Open after two days, you've still got a chance."
OLDER, BUT BETTER: Argentina's Eduardo Romero has won all over the world, including eight victories on the PGA European Tour and numerous titles in South America. But he never has won on the PGA Tour. A victory at the U.S. Open would make him the oldest to win a major.
"Like wine, more older, more good," said Romero, who turns 49 on July 12. He shot 66 and was at 136, three strokes back.
The oldest player to win a major was Julius Boros, who was 48 years, 4 months, when he won the 1968 PGA Championship.
AROUND OLYMPIA FIELDS: Dade City's Tim Petrovic shot 70 and was at 1-under 139, tied for 18th. ... There were 26 players under par through two rounds, 39 at par or better. ... With the cut at 3-over 143, 68 players made it to the weekend. Among those to miss the cut were Love, David Duval, Rich Beem, Nick Faldo and Jeff Maggert.
