Tiger Woods, seeking a fifth consecutive major title, was battling to make the cut at the U.S. Open today when he finished the second round with a five-over-par 145, nine strokes off the pace.
Retief Goosen of South Africa birdied the 365-yard 17th to reach five under par but then bogeyed the 18th for an even-par 70 to fall back into a tie for the lead with J.L. Lewis and hard-charging 1996 PGA Championship winner Mark Brooks.
Lewis, who began the round at two under par, shot another two-under 68, while Brooks roared out with five birdies in his first six holes to overcome an opening 72 with a six-under 64 to share the lead at 136 with about half the field still playing the second round.
Also making a charge was world number two Phil Mickelson, who made a hole-in-one at the 175-yard sixth to move to two under par for the tournament after beginning the second round at level par.
Next best in the clubhouse was David Duval after an up-and-down back nine left him at one-under 139 after a second-round 69.
Both Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke have just begun their second rounds and are currently on 3 over par. -PA
