Michael Thompson was under no illusion that his three-shot lead in the US Open was a comfortable cushion heading into Friday's second round, especially with Tiger Woods breathing down his neck. "I'm just going to go out and do my best," the 27-year-old Thompson said of his second-round strategy.
"It's a US Open, I could get bad bounces. That kind of stuff is out of my control. But I can build on the confidence that I gained (Thursday) and go out and have fun." With the help of seven birdies, Thompson posted a four-under par 66 on Thursday, giving himself a three-shot lead over Woods and four others.
The chasing group at The Olympic Club included 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell, England's Justin Rose, 2001 USPGA Champion David Toms and Nick Watney - who propelled himself into the title hunt with the third albatross in US Open history.
Meanwhile a host of expected contenders found themselves in a battle just to make the halfway cut. Phil Mickelson, with five runner-up finishes in the national championship he would dearly love to win, opened with a six-over 76, while Masters champion Bubba Watson posted an eight-over 78.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who missed just 10 greens all week en route to a record-setting US Open triumph at rain-softened Congressional last year, missed 12 in a seven-over 77, while world number one Luke Donald's bid for a first major title evaporated with a nine-over 79 on Olympic's treacherous hillside Lake Course.
McIlroy and Donald teed off at 7:44 am along with world number three Lee Westwood, just trying to salvage something in the second major of the year.
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