Earlier this week I wrote about all the rain that was happening and more that was predicted at Merion and to be honest along with many other pundits, went on to opine that the soft fairways and receptive greens would result in a dart throwing contest that would open up the championship to anybody..
Well Merion did get soaked with 7 inches of rain before play started on Thursday, but the big storm with 3 more due on Thursday blew through with only half an inch of damage, and play resumed that day at 1215 in ideal, I mean ideal scoring conditions which have continued by and large right up until they called it off at 8.30pm last night.
The result ??
There are a whopping 2 players under par, Billy Horschel 72 67 -1 and Phil Mickelson 67 72 -1 and they are your leaders although there are still 68 players going back out there at 715am to finish their rounds
In their beds this morning at even par and T3 are, Luke Donald 68 72, Steve Stricker 71 69 and Justin Rose 71 69.
Big names.... Tiger 73 70 +3, Rory 73 70 +3, Ernie 71 72 +3
It looks like +8 will be the cut line... The point is Merion is playing to a stroke average of 75.25 with bogeys leading birdies 764- 245 !!and warm sunny weather is in place for the weekend and so the course continues to dry out, fairways firmer, greens harder.. you get the picture
Consider these names that have already jetted out of Philadelphia for the weekend elsewhere or at least have a taxi on standby..
Brandt Snedeker has made 1 birdie in 2 days and at 74 74 +8 he has to wait this morning, so he still has a chance..
Graeme MsDowell, former champion, playing well this year.. 76 77 for his first MC in eight starts
Louis Oosthuizen...shot 75 then WD
Keegan Bradley with all of 3 birdies but 2 doubles shoots 77 75...bye.
Bubba Watson never known for his ability to hit fairways in reg., at 71 76 +7 may just get in
Dustin Johnson, tons of star power 71 77 +8 also waiting..
Angel Cabrera 74 81 a former champion, in ideal scoring conditions
Jim Furyk has made the cut 16 of 18 US Opens...77 79... make it 16 of 19...
Zack Johnson hits it straight, a lot of people picked him in the top 10.....74 77 bye..
As for the Canadians only Adam Hadwin has finished 2 rounds and he has MC 81 76...... MacKenzie Hughes has a chance, 75 and is +4 thru 9 so at +9 as he returns this morning..... Also Mike Weir 72 and +3 thru 10 so +5 as he returns..........David Hearn 78 but is only +1 thru 10 holes so has a shot......... Ryan Yip 76 but is +5 thru 16 so +11 doesn't look good..
The upshot of all this is that we have a hell of a weekend ahead, with Tiger, Rory, Phil, Ernie, Luke, Stricks, Rosey all in contention..
The question is, which one of them can keep it around even par which is about all Merion will concede, and who amongst would have thought that on Wednesday ??
Not me....
For live scoring click here http://www.majorschampionships.com/us-open/leaderboard.html
BryanAngus
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