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SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. - You can pick apart the negatives, such as all the missed fairways and greens. You can talk about the lack of birdies, just three in 36 holes. You can argue that the U.S. Open is over for Tiger Woods, seeing that he is seven back. But you can also acknowledge some incredible short-game skills, the ones that kept Woods around for the weekend at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
After an opening bogey at the 10th hole Friday, Woods made 15 pars and two birdies to shoot 69. It might not have looked like much, but how he got there was amazing.
Woods had nine one-putt greens, including his final five. Had he not been so deft chipping around the greens, his score might have been in the mid or high 70s. He may not have extended his cut streak to 125 in a row.
"I figured, hang in there, keep being patient," Woods said. "It's the U.S. Open, you have to hang in there, and eventually, I thought I was playing well enough to make a few birdies.
"The thing is, not to force it. Not on this golf course. ... Eventually, some birdies did come."
Woods will need to give himself more chances if he is to get into contention today. He has hit just 12 of 28 fairways and 19 of 36 greens in regulation.
ERNIE'S SURGE: After starting the tournament 3 over par through three holes, Ernie Els is thrilled to be 3 under through 36. He is just three back of the leaders. He shot 67, including birdies at the fifth through eighth holes.
"I'm playing to a level where I feel like I can win." Els said. "That got me right back into it. I'm obviously thrilled to be where I am after my start." DUVAL TAKES SMALL STEPS: David Duval shot 83-82, but termed his two-day return a success. "For what I was trying to accomplish, I think I did that as well as anything I've ever accomplished," said Duval, the 2001 British Open champion who had not played on the PGA Tour since October. "Unless something changes, I'll be at Troon (for the British Open next month). I don't know if I'll play before then, but I may very well."
EMOTIONAL RETURN: Corey Pavin said playing at Shinnecock has brought back memories of his victory here nine years ago.
"I almost have to take a little bit more time," Pavin said. "I was introduced on the first tee (Thursday) and it was tough. I had to gather myself and hit it. It was a wonderful reception everyone gave me. Sometimes you have to be very aware of what's going on around you."
Pavin followed his opening-round 67 with a 71 that put him at 138, 2 under par.
"I think it always helps when you come back to a course that you've played well," said Pavin, who has not won on the PGA Tour since the 1996 Colonial. "But I've been working on my game and maybe something's coming around a little bit."
TOUGH DAY: Jay Haas could not sustain his opening-round effort, when he shot 66 to share the lead. A double bogey at the ninth hole, his last, dropped him to 74 and a 12th-place tie, six shots back of the leaders. At least his son, Bill, an amateur, made the cut, he said.
"It makes the double (bogey) on 9 a little more bearable," the older Haas said. "The way I finished up, I would have rather been watching him. I was gagging pretty badly at the end. I don't think I'm out of it. But I hate to give away two (strokes) like that."
CAMERA GETS KICKED: Woods' caddie, Steve Williams, walked across the 10th tee and kicked the camera of New York Daily News photographer John Roca. Williams could not be reached. The USGA said no action would be taken.