Siem has to unpack his car and check back into his hotel

Jun 18, 2011, 0:58 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland - After the first round at the US Open, German Marcel Siem was well off the pace, lying tied in 145th place after carding a 79.

On Friday, the 30-year-old shared the best round of the day of 66 with run-away leader Rory McIlroy as he managed seven birdies against two dropped shots.

He had the worst-possible start on Thursday. 'I was a little bit nervous. It was my first US Open, and I started very early.

'I hit my first shot, which was a tough shot over the lake. But then the shot hit a spectator on the back, took a big wobble and went into the water, and I then missed my putt after that.

'I lost my confidence completely on the greens and could not hit it after that any more.'

His start in the second round was nearly as poor - if less dramatic - as he dropped a shot at the first hole.

'My bogey on the first did not help. I was nine over, and I thought that it will be tough out there. But I just kept my hat on, and I said to my caddie it is such a great and big tournament and even if you miss the cut, you must still enjoy it.'

He said that things changed when the spectators started cheering for him. 'They like my long drive, so they cheered me up a bit and all of a sudden, the puts were dropping, and I played pretty solid until the interruption for the thunderstorm when I lost my rhythm after that.

'My goal for the weekend now is: easy, easy, easy. Its nice that I know I can shoot low here, that helps.'

Siem said that at the beginning of the week his goal was a top eight finish to qualify for next year. 'That is still my goal. This morning my goal was just to make the cut, but now I am in there and have a chance to finish in the top ten.

'That would be great, to finish in the top ten in my first US Open.'

But for the time being, Siem has time to reflect on his outstanding 66 he played and the pleasant problems it brought him. 'I am really, really happy, but now I have to check into the hotel again, I already had all my luggage in my car as I expected to miss the cut,' he said.