The U.S. Open hasn’t been good for the U.S. thus far.
There’s only one American among the top seven players: Bubba Watson, who is one shot behind leader Angel Cabrera.
Watson breaks the mold for the kind of player who is supposed to win on an Open course.
He is a long, sometimes erratic hitter, who often lacks focus and patience.
In a bit of backward logic, Watson summarized how those traits could work for him in an Open.
“Everybody knows they are going to make mistakes,” Watson said. “I know I’m going to make many mistakes. But if everybody else is making mistakes, now we’re on an even playing field. So the U.S. Open might be good for me.”
Whatever. Give a birdie to Watson. You have to root for a guy named Bubba to win the U.S. Open.
Birdie/bogey: Phil Mickelson. Go home, Phil, and let the wrist heal.
Birdie: The English brigade. It was a good day for England, as Justin Rose shot a 71 to sit two shots back at 2 over and Paul Casey fired the round of the day, or any day, with a 66.
Bogey: Luke Donald. England’s other big entry got knocked out with a 77, ending a streak of making the cut in 10 straight majors. Also, Donald’s countryman, first-round leader Nick Dougherty, stumbled with a 77.
Bogey: Jim Furyk. The Pittsburgh Steelers fan shot a 75, dropping to 6 over. One of the pretournament favorites, he will have to pick up the pace on the weekend.
Bogey: Vijay Singh. Starting on the back nine, Singh had three birdies and three bogeys to make the turn in 35. But it was all downhill from there, as he played the final nine holes in 7-over 42 en route to a 77. He is 8 over for the tournament.
Bogey: Colin Montgomerie. Rounds of 76 and 82 mean Montgomerie now has gone winless in 61 majors.
Bogey: Jeff Sluman. At 49, the Hinsdale resident wanted to do better in what could be his last U.S. Open. He shot a 78 to miss the cut at 12 over.
Bogey: Trevor Immelman. The last Western Open winner is headed home after a round of 79 dropped him to 12 over.
Bogey: Davis Love III. At age 43, Love is becoming more of an afterthought in this tournament. He shot 75-80 to miss the cut in his second straight Open, and fourth in the last five years.
Bogey: Your friendly golf writer. Three of my top 5 picks (players other than Woods and Mickelson), Adam Scott, Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink, didn’t make it to the weekend.
