McDowell surges ahead at US Open as Tiger toils again

Jun 18, 2010, 21:52 GMT

Pebble Beach, California - Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland fired a 3-under-par 68 to move clear at the top of the leaderboard midway through the second round of the US Open at Pebble Beach on Friday.

The 30-year-old reached 4-under-par at one stage but a bogey at the ninth hole, his last, dropped him back to 3-under - still two shots clear of the field.

'I'm playing the golf of my life but there's a long way to go,' said McDowell, who thrived in the overcast conditions.

'I'm swinging well and hitting the shots I see in my head. It's just keeping the ball under control. The conditions were scoreable this morning - the greens were receptive with little wind.

'I'm in a great position but I'm just going to keep doing my thing and see where I am on Sunday afternoon.'

Two-time champion Ernie Els was among a big group of players on 1-under-par after an excellent 68 of his own, while American Dustin Johnson and Ryo Ishikawa of Japan also finished on 1-under.

Englishman Paul Casey, who shared the overnight lead on 2-under-par, fell back to level par while world No 1 Tiger Woods is seven shots off the pace after a 72 dropped him back to 4-over-par.

Another Englishman Lee Westwood was one shot better off after a level-par 71, while the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald were due to tee off later on Friday.