• US Open, Round Two

Woods joins Furyk out in front in San Francisco

ESPN staff
June 15, 2012

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Tiger Woods holds a share of the lead after the second round of the US Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco.

The 14-time major champion began the day at one-under and held onto that total throughout Friday - finishing one-under after a second round 70 despite being left frustrated by some squandered birdie opportunities down the stretch.

Woods shares the halfway lead with Jim Furyk, who finished in the morning with a second round 69 to post a daunting target for the rest of the field that only Woods would manage to equal. Former US PGA champion David Toms then followed Woods in at one-under also.

It was another controlled performance from the three-time US Open champion, who had the advantage of watching the morning players tackle the conditions before going out for his second tussle with the treacherous layout.

He made an immediate move by holing a birdie putt for a two at the third - which briefly gave him the championship lead outright - before a run of three successive bogeys between the fifth and seventh threatened to see him fall out of contention.

The American regrouped and fought back, however, with a birdie at the tenth and 13th - again, after a precise iron approach - brought him back under par for the tournament and on terms with Furyk, who had finished in the morning session.

The back nine - particularly the two back-to-back par-fives - offer slim birdie opportunities but Woods was unable to take advantage of either, despite being greenside on both holes in two. That left him needing a par up the last to tie Furyk's mark, and he did that after a smart escape from a front bunker - his first such sand save of the week - to ensure he will be in the final group with Furyk on Saturday.

Another former champion, Graeme McDowell, is nicely placed at one-over, alongside Nicolas Colsaerts, Jordan Peterson and Michael Thompson - who held the lead after an opening 66 but slipped back following a follow-up 75.

Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar and Jason Dufner are all well placed at three-over, with Lee Westwood needing a big day on Saturday after remaining at five-over for the tournament.

Both Woods' playing partners had difficult days. Masters champion Bubba Watson missed the cut after finishing nine-over for the tournament, while Phil Mickelson wasted a number of late birdie opportunities but holed a lightning fast birdie putt to ensure he will be around at the weekend despite finishing seven-over.

Earlier there had been a little bit of history, as 17-year-old Beau Hossler took advantage of Woods' brief wobble to grab the outright lead on his own at two-under. The high school student eventually fell back to three-over overall, but remains in contention to be the low amateur over the weekend.

Of the early starters, Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald were among some high profile names who missed the cut.

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