U.S. Open Golf 2010 Leaderboard: Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els Headline Weekend

The 2010 US Open looks to have a weekend of excitement with Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els on the leaderboard that includes Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, two-time AT&T champ Dustin Johnson, and Japanese phenom Ryo Isikawa.

Els, with two US Open trophies at home, understands what is required between now and Sunday.

He was in good spirits, after his round, which he admitted was a great improvement over Thursday’s play.

“I did adjust a little bit last night,” Els explained about the improved putting. “I felt my ball position was a little out and my aim was a bit off.”

In the first round, Els missed a one foot putt and had three, three-putts.

But today was significantly better. Though his scoring was up and down, with five birdies, a bogey and a double, he finished with a 68 for a one under par total, tied for second.

“It’s been a long time since I won one of these,” the two-time US Open champ said. “Obviously I needed a round like today to get me back in the tournament.”

When asked about his shot on the ninth, where he seemed to be stymied in the hay, he said, “I missed my tee shot to the right there, I didn't have an unplayable lie. I could advance the ball.”

He landed it 40 to 50 yards short of the green and it ran up toward the pin to secure a par.

As for his game, he believes he is ready.

“I worked really hard coming in here, so I feel my game's there, which is nice, because you need your game around a U.S. Open venue,” he said.

Dustin Johnson, who won back-to-back AT&Ts, commented on the difference in conditions in June versus February.

“You hit driver a lot more in February. The ball doesn’t roll at all.  So then coming into greens, every club you hit spins back,” he explained. Then he added, “It’s kind of nice not wearing rain gear.”

Ryo Ishikawa played in the most recent AT&T. “I felt it was more difficult in February,” he said about the course. “I hope I can play more aggressive tomorrow and the next two days.”

Ishikawa played the first two rounds with Tom Watson who did make the cut, thanks to the 10-shot rule.

Phil Mickelson, who finished in the early evening, posted a second round 66.

“I thought something in the 60s was out there and would get me into contention,” he said. “I needed to get off to a quick start because the birdie holes are the first seven, and I needed to capitalize on that.”

He did just that with birdies at the second, third, fourth, sixth, and eighth, and posted a front nine 31.

As though undergoing the same fix as Els, Mickelson said that the difference between rounds one and two was putting.

“I t was just a slight adjustment in the setup and all of a sudden the ball starts rolling on line,” Mickelson said. However, he also hit his shots into the greens into better position to make birdie. “The holes that I didn't birdie, again, it felt like I wasn't overstressing the entire round trying to hit miraculous shots.”

Position on the greens was significant in his ability to score, according to Mickelson.

“The big thing for me was leaving the ball underneath the hole. The putts I made they were all uphill,” he said. “They were all putts I could be aggressive on and get them on, get them rolling on line. The one that I couldn't was the four‑footer on nine. And the ball kind of waffled off at the hole.”

Saturday’s final tee times will be nearly at 4 pm west coast time because the tournament will be televised in prime time on Saturday evening. Mickelson said he can’t wait.

“I think this is the greatest place for a golfer to hold an Open to be able to play one of the most beautiful golf courses and have it be in U.S. Open conditions,” he added. “This is so much fun, and I don't want the weekend to end. I want to keep playing.”

When asked about his tee shot at the 8th hole, which it seemed, would roll off the cliff, he he said, “I hit a five‑iron for crying out loud and it almost went over. Had to have the marshal run up to see if it was okay.”

He wedged it onto the green, about 15 feet from the hole. 

When asked what he would do to kill time until 3:30 on Saturday, he said, he’d have a practice session earlier in the day. “I'm looking forward to that,” he added. “It's better than the 8 o'clock time.”