A Long Course Gets Longer on Long Day

BETHESDA, Md. — Congressional was definitely in session Friday at the U.S. Open, where it brought down its gavel with a resounding thwack on a whole bunch of the premier players in the world.

It was a day of discovery. Most people already knew the layout is longer than the drive up the beltway and on to Baltimore, but everybody now knows that the place is downright mean too.

Tom Lehman, who began the day two shots off the lead, toured Congressional in par of 70 and wound up with the second-round lead in his lap.

He was asked how many holes would be good places to gamble.

“Zero,” Lehman said.

Odd, but that was exactly the good-humor level enjoyed by Colin Montgomerie.

The first-round leader followed his thrilling 65 with a breathtaking 76 and disappeared faster than the sun did just before lunch.

Thunderstorms rolled through the area long enough to dump some rain and delay play for 2 hours 18 minutes.

Montgomerie didn’t like the break much.

“A 76 is a big hiccup,” said Montgomerie, who was disturbed when someone cheered after he missed a putt on No. 9.

“It’s disappointing,” he said. “I guess that comes with certain tents you visit in rain delays.”

Lehman wasn’t disappointed with a three-under total of 137, one shot ahead of 1994 Open champion Ernie Els and Stewart Cink, both of whom shot 67.

Mark McNulty was also two under, but he still had four holes to go to complete the second round when play was halted because of darkness just after 8:30 p.m.

When play was called off, there were 45 players who had not finished.

The golfers got started after the rain delay just after 2 p.m. and found softer turf, which probably helped keep a few crooked drives from bouncing into the rough but also made the course play much longer.

All in all, Congressional probably should have been a little more congenial, yet it didn’t turn out that way.

Not very fortunate were some very big names, led by Greg Norman. He posted his worst 36-hole score in the 68 majors he has played, 75-79--154.

Misery had enough company for a couple of tables of bridge. Nick Faldo shot 74 and is at six-over 146. Fred Couples is at seven-over 147. Defending champion Steve Jones shot a 75 for a 147 total, Corey Pavin is at 148 and Ian Woosnam at 150.

Steve Stricker began the day one shot off the lead after a 66 and came back 10 shots worse with a 76.

Then there was Tiger Woods. The Masters champion pulled himself out of a first-round funk and delivered a tidy 67, with a message included: He’s back.

After opening with a 74, Woods was so upset his swoosh was frowning. Although he closed with two bogeys on the last three holes Friday, Woods was decidedly upbeat.

“I knew going out today, I had to shoot a good number and try to get myself back to even par for the tournament and I did one better than that,” he said. “Unfortunately, I had three holes to go and I just couldn’t make it.”

Woods was making it just fine on the front. He had four birdies in the first seven holes, each the result of iron shots so close to the hole he almost could have kicked the ball in.

He made a six-footer on No. 1, an eight-footer on No. 3, a three-footer on No. 5 and a four-footer on No. 7.

By the time he finished signing his scorecard, Woods already was contemplating the possibilities.

“Right now, if I keep hitting the ball better and better, I’ll be right there, hopefully, on the back nine on Sunday.”

Lehman is hoping he is at least close to the same position he was in a year ago at Oakland Hills. He was tied for the lead on the last hole, but missed the fairway with his drive and bogeyed the hole to lose to Jones by a shot.

“I really felt that, you know, I just had the feeling that I was going to win that tournament,” he said. “And I didn’t. So, you know, all you can do is go out and keep plugging away.

“And as long as I don’t go out and beat myself the next two days, I’m going to be a factor on Sunday.”

The biggest factor in Lehman’s round was when he birdied the par-four fifth when he knocked a nine-iron to eight inches from the hole. That came after bogeying two of the first three.

Lehman said he didn’t let his slow beginning get him down.

“I’m pleased with the way I’m thinking,” he said.

Not too many players were saying the same thing at Congressional by sundown.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

LEADERS

Lehman: 67-70--137 -3

Els: 71-67--138 -2

Cink: 71-67--138 -2

Maggert: 73-66--139 -1

Leonard: 69-72--141 +1

Tolles: 74-67--141 +1

Woods: 74-67--141 +1

Gibson: 72-69--141 +1

Dunlap: 75-66--141 +1

Schreyer: 68-73--141 +1

Montgomerie: 65-76--141 +1

* COMPLETE SCORES: C9

* LEADERS’ CARDS: C9

* NOTEBOOK: C9