Ricky Barnes has set the U.S. Open 36-hole scoring record, finishing two trips around Bethpage Black in 8-under 132.Barnes, the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion, completed his second round Saturday morning, making three birdies in nine holes for a 65. That gave him a one-stroke lead over Lucas Glover, who had a second-round 64.The previous 36-hole record was 133, set by Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh at Olympia Fields in 2003.Seventy-eight golfers were starting their second round Saturday morning with the forecast calling for more rain in the afternoon.
With more storms bearing down on Bethpage Black, Lucas Glover returned looking quite comfortable leading the U.S. Open. Not bad, considering he's never before made the cut in the season's second major championship. Glover finished a six-birdie, no-bogey second round of 6-under 64 Saturday morning, putting him in a tie for the lead at that point with Mike Weir and former U.S. Amateur champion Ricky Barnes. Weir, the first-round leader, and Barnes both had four holes left to play."The key to making birdies at the U.S. Open is hitting it in the fairway," Glover said Friday night. "I've been doing that, for the most part."
Just like Weir did on Friday during his opening round on his way to shooting 64, Glover found a way to go low on Bethpage's soft fairways and super-receptive greens. Phil Mickelson rode waves of emotional support throughout his 9 1/2-hour, 29-hole marathon Friday from fans who adored him seven years ago at Bethpage and seem even more attracted to him now. It's been less than a month since Amy Mickelson revealed that she has breast cancer, and she sent her husband to New York with one request: Bring home a trophy. "I just love playing golf here," Mickelson said. "I love coming up to this area. I think all sports teams love playing in front of these people here. They are some of the best sports fans in the country."
