U.S. Open blog: The latest action from Pinehurst
Friday, 4:30 p.m.
The USGA didn't get exactly what they were hoping for in last weeks men's US Open. This week, at least so far, is a different story. Star power including two Americans top the leaderboard as of Friday afternoon.
Michelle Wie will head into Saturday playing some really good golf. She is the clubhouse leader after her second straight 68. This could very well be the year Wie nets her first major championship. Now the USGA keeps it's collective fingers crossed that Stacy Lewis can hold it together and stay close as well.
It appears the run for 11-year old Lucy Li will come to an end this afternoon. She's already five over today with most of the back nine to play. The projected cut line at this point is 9, so anything over that won't make it. Li sits at 13 for the tournament.
-- Joe Mazur
Saturday, 11:00 p.m.
The day began with the tournament in Martin Kaymer's fist and it ended the same way. The rock steady German had some adventures along the way but always seemed to have the shots to avoid disaster. An eagle here, a recovery bogey save there and a finishing birdie on 18 that he attributed to his "skill." He'll get no disagreement from me.
I walked the first 2 holes inside the ropes with Kaymer and Brendon Todd. It took all of one shot before I heard a lady in the gallery plead with Kaymer to "give someone else a chance!" There was an audible Sprockets -- an old SNL skit -- joke on 2 when Kaymer found the scrub area. He paid it no mind. He's an easy guy to like with an easy smile. Of course, we'd all be smiling in his shoes, too.
Poor Todd never had a shot. After rolling his birdie putt right off the other side on 2, it was all downhill to a 79. Afterwards, Todd called it a "revenge day" for the USGA. Everyone had to pay the price for Kaymer's insolence in Rds 1 and 2.
-- Mark Armstrong
Saturday, 3:00 p.m.
Much has been made of the course modifications to Pinehurst No.2., but from a coverage standpoint, things have greatly changed as well. We were allowed to shoot on course video back in 2005, so now that we can't that means much hustling around and even more sweating. That goes double for our sports photographer Charlie Mickens.
Barred from shooting anything other than interviews and the putting green/driving range, it's become a very docile event. Like what I imagine movie acting to be. We all sit around in the media tent watching on giant monitors and wait for something to do.
The volume of information that is pumped out in the media room is mind-numbing. Any possible statistic, course factoid, interview transcription is available instantaneously. Crazy thing is -- it seems totally normal.
As for the golf, we're still 35 or so minutes from Kaymer and Todd teeing off. Martin's the only story. If he's half as steady as Thursday and Friday, this is a boat race to his first title. Toru Taniguchi's going to need some help to be in the title hunt after ripping off an 88 today.
My favorite part of the U.S. Open - - the relatable scorecard.
-- Mark Armstrong
Friday, 1:15 p.m.
It's Martin Kaymer's world, we're all just living in it, apparently.
After firing a 65 in his opening round of the U.S. Open, Kaymer matched it on a warm sunny day at Pinehurst No.2.
As I type, he's eight shots clear of the field, a gap that feels like the Grand Canyon. Through 36 holes, Kaymer has 11 birdies and one bogey!!
I would say he took advantage of damp/softened greens as we got some heavy rain overnight, but the dry/hard greens he played on Thursday weren't exactly difficult for the German to navigate.
This is no fluke folks, Kaymer reached the top of the World Golf Rankings back in 2011 and won The Players Championship earlier this year.
A day-and-a half in, I think it's safe to say the "all-natural" Pinehurst No.2 is playing much easier than the thick Bermuda grass rough of old.. These guys are just too talented and creative from the hard sand.
-- Joe Mazur
Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
The 114th U.S. Open is finally "open" for business. After a few days of practice, the players finally hit the course in search of a Major Championship.
A lot has changed since Pinehurst No. 2 was the host in 2005. The course has been restored closer to its original roots, Tiger Woods is no longer a golf machine (nor is he here), and there are two young men from the Triangle who are in field.
Both Webb Simpson and Brenden Todd teed off early this morning. Playing in his first competitive round at the course, Todd found himself on the first page of the leaderboard after his one under 69. Simpson, on the other hand, has played many competitive rounds on No. 2, winning a high school state championship there. Today Simpson got off to a great start and was two under after five holes. He could not maintain that form however, and is 1 over for the Championship.
"It was fair. It was one of those days that [if] you played well, you'd shoot under par, and if not you could still shoot mid to high 70s. I had one of those days where it could have gone either way," said Simpson. "Didn't strike it as crisp today, so I was kind of hanging in there at the end."
Fan favorite Phil Mickelson shot an even par 70. I followed Mickelson as he made the turn, fighting a boat load of people who are hoping to see history being made. Everyone is anxious to see if he can finally break through after six 2nd place finishes in our National Championship. "To come back and to feel the support is really special and cool," Mickelson said.
-- Joe Mazur
Thursday, 12:30 p.m.
Here's an early look at how the leaderboard is shaping up:
