Farmingdale, New York - American Ricky Barnes set the pace
at the halfway point Saturday in the US Open, while Tiger Woods had
to battle to make the halfway cut.
Barnes picked up where he left off the previous night, adding
three more birdies in his closing 10 holes to set the target on 8-
under-par after a brilliant 65.
He was one shot clear of overnight leader Lucas Glover, who
completed a flawless round of 64. Former Masters champion Mike Weir
was a shot further back after a 70, and former Open champion David
Duval is right there on 3-under-par after a 70.
After the delays of the opening day, organizers tried to get as
much of the third round completed as possible, but the heavy rains of
day one returned on Saturday evening.
Barnes set a new US Open 36-hole scoring record of 132 with
another superb display on Saturday.
'If you'd have told me I would have been eight under and only a
one-shot lead, I would have said, 'You're kidding me',' Barnes said.
'With some tees moved up and the soft greens helped it out. And my
ball-striking was the most probably impressive part of the first 36
holes. I just got 31 of 36 greens. Pretty stress-free - I think one
bogey.'
Defending champion Woods carded a 1-under-par 69 to get back to 3-
over-par in round two, but the world number one, who managed one hole
of his third round before the rains came, is 11 shots off the pace
and needs something special over the weekend.
'I'm going to have to shoot some better rounds - there's no doubt
about it,' Woods said.
'But if you get the ball in play here, you've got a chance. I'm
having a hard time getting a feel for my chipping. I really need to
start hitting the ball better.
'The putts I hit well didn't go in, and the putts I hit poorly
weren't even close. I need to make a few more putts and get it
rolling.'
Englishman Lee Westwood surged into contention with a 4-under-par
66, lifting him to 2-under-par.
'You can only play according to the conditions you're playing in,
and I played OK, made a few putts, whereas yesterday I didn't,' he
said.
'I wanted to get off to a good start and did. It was a real bonus.
That was a pretty good round of golf, because it's not easy out
there, and I'm in a pretty confident mood.'
Phil Mickelson is also in contention on 1-under-par after a 70 to
follow his opening-round 69, and a par at the first in round three.
Sergio Garcia was on level par after three holes of round three,
while Australian Adam Scott finished on the same score, and Rory
McIlroy was 2-over-par through five holes of his third round.
Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington and Englishmen Luke
Donald and Paul Casey were among those who missed the cut.
USA
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