US OPEN: Scott top Aussie as Johnson, Landry lead

BY JOHN HUGGAN AT OAKMONT CC

The 116th US Open Championship is, so far at least, one weird tournament. Consider the following: On the second day of the event, the man who ended up as the first round leader, one Andrew Landry, hit exactly one shot – a ten-foot putt for birdie on the 9th green (his 18th) – to seal his status as the first US Open rookie to lead after 18 holes since former US PGA champion Bob Tway achieved the same feat at Shinnecock Hills back in 1986.

Landry’s lone stroke was, by way of example, 138 fewer than Phil Mickelson hit today; 135 fewer than Dustin Johnson; and 140 fewer than Ernie Els. Nice work if you can get it.

Andrew Landry hits a putt on the 9th green, his only shot on day 2 of the US Open.
PHOTO: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

And there’s more. A large percentage of the 156-man field here at Oakmont hit no shots at all on day two, a fact that condemns them – or at least those who make the halfway cut, which will be made halfway through third day of this four-day event – to play as many holes as possible on Saturday up to a maximum of 36.

Still with me? Thought not.

Anyway, back at the golf, the fortunes of the seven Australians in the field constituted a mixed bag. As one of only nine men able to complete his opening round on day one, Aron Price took no part in Friday’s proceedings. But on six over par, the likelihood is that something considerably better than 76 will be required if he is to be around for what is now euphemistically called “the weekend.”

Steven Bowditch's form struggles have continued this week at the US Open.
PHOTO: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.

Marc Leishman completed his 71 early on day two and is so better placed to progress, but the same cannot be said for Steven Bowditch. His aggregate of 157 (84-73) is better than only the pitiful Zach Edmondson and the disqualified Peter Hanson and so means the owner of golf’s greatest eyebrows is headed for the proverbial early exit.

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Cam Smith was another struggling. An opening 71 proved to be something of a false dawn for the 22-year old from Brisbane. A less convincing five over 75 in his second round – containing only one birdie – means he is likely to have a nervous wait to see if he has made the cut.

Perhaps most surprising was the opening 76 shot by World No.1 Jason Day. Five bogeys and a double bogey scarred the Queenslander’s card – his lone birdie at the par-4 14th no match for such a level of inadequacy. Still, all is not lost. One under par after 15 holes off his second round when play was called for darkness, Day’s chances of playing four rounds are more than reasonable given a steady finish in the morning.

Adam Scott plays his approach shot on the 3rd hole during the second round. He will have three holes to play early on Saturday morning.
PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

On a more mediocre note, former champion Geoff Ogilvy ruined earlier signs of a return to form by scarring his cards with three big numbers. Which was a pity. Well above the field average in fairways and greens hit, the only part of Ogilvy’s letting him down appears to be his putting. He has averaged 1.78 putts per green here; the average for his fellow competitors 1.73.

Still, the 39-year old Melburnian’s one over 71 was all over the map in terms of consistency – he made five birdies, four bogeys and a double on the 1st hole. That was bad enough, but the Golf Australia columnist came back later to make a triple on the 1st (his tenth second time round) as well as a catastrophic double-bogey on the drivable par-4 17th hole, where he took two shots to escape a greenside bunker. He eventually finished on seven over – perhaps one agonising shot too many – having made bogey on the final hole in the gloaming.

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The best-placed Aussie is Adam Scott. One under through 15 holes of his second round, the 2013 Masters champion is level for the championship and well placed to contend on the course many feel is America’s toughest test of golf. He sits four strokes behind Dustin Johnson, the leader in the clubhouse after two rounds, and Landry, the other leader who is also back at base having played 18 holes fewer.

A relaxed Scott has a laugh with caddie Steve Williams midway through the second round.
PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

Told you it was confusing.

Oh, one last thing. Scoring well isn’t completely impossible. Daniel Summerhays proved that by shooting an extraordinary second round of 65 that included six 3s and two 2s. Put that in your pipes and smoke it Oakmont members.