FARMINGDALE, New York – Ricky Barnes set the US Open 36-hole scoring record Saturday by finishing two trips around Bethpage Black in 8-under 132.
Tiger Woods, meanwhile, remained well off the leaderboard as rain returned to still-soggy Bethpage Black.
Barnes, the 2002 US Amateur champion, completed his second round Saturday morning, making three birdies in nine holes for a 65.
The previous 36-hole record was 133, set by Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh at Olympia Fields in 2003. The USGA said Lucas Glover would also be credited with holding the previous record; his two-round score of 133 was posted Saturday a few minutes before Barnes finished play.
“It’s pretty cool,” Barnes said. “Obviously at the beginning of the week you didn’t think that score was out there. Obviously with some tees moved up and the soft greens helped it out. And obviously with my ball-striking was the most probably impressive part of the first 36 holes.”
Obviously.
Barnes has hit 31 of 36 greens this week; the rest of the field is only hitting the green in regulation about half the time.
“If you would have told me I would have been 8 under and only (a) one-shot lead, I would have said, ‘You’re kidding me,”’ Barnes said. “But I’ll take it. It was solid play. And I’m happy with the position I’m at.”
Woods was not.
The defending champion and world’s No. 1 shot 69 on Saturday, only getting to 3 over for the week and within 11 shots of Barnes’ lead. He missed a 10-footer for par on his closing hole, then swiped his putter in frustration before tapping in to end his four-birdie, three-bogey day.
“You never know,” Woods said. “I’ve got 36 more holes, over the next probably three days. It’s one of those things where if I keep plugging along, just like any US Open, keep plugging along, make a birdie here and there and we’ll see where it ends up.”
Barnes led Lucas Glover by one shot; Glover had a chance at matching the US Open and all-time major championship record with a 20-foot birdie putt on his final hole Saturday morning, only to leave it short and settle for a bogey-free 64.
Glover said he was thinking about shooting 63 as he stood over that birdie putt on the last hole, then lamented that he, in his words, “weenied out.”
He didn’t have much else to complain about.
“I’m very pleased,” said Glover, who didn’t even make the cut in any of his three previous US Open appearances. “Probably as good a round of golf as I’ve played. I’m very excited.”
First-round leader Mike Weir, who has finished in the top 20 at the US Open seven of the past nine years, was two shots off Barnes’ lead at 6 under. A threesome of players, including David Duval, were tied for fourth at 3 under through 36 holes.
“I’m just happy I’ve given them a good show so far,” Duval said.
Azuma Yano of Japan shot 65 in his second round, joining Duval and Sweden’s Peter Hanson at 3 under. Steve Stricker made a big move as well, shooting 66 to move into a tie for 11th at 1 under.
Odd as this may seem, there’s apparently some who think Woods is getting too much attention. (AP)