Tiger Woods Takes US Open Lead

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Tiger Woods moved into a three-way tie for the lead at the 112th U.S. Open with a second-round even-par 70, sharing the lead with 2003 champion Jim Furyk (69) and 2001 PGA Championship winner David Toms (69).

Of 42 previous 36-hole leads on the PGA TOUR, Woods has converted 34 into wins. His most recent 36-hole lead prior to this week led to victory at the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Of Woods’ three U.S. Open Hill wins, two have come after holding the 36-hole lead (2000, 2002). In 2008, he entered the weekend one stroke behind Stuart Appleby before eventually defeating Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff.

2010 FedExCup champion Jim Furyk is making his 67th Major Championship start, with his best finish a win at the 2003 U.S. Open. His 69 on Friday was his 25th round at par-or-better in 66 overall rounds at the U.S. Open.

David Toms carded an even-par 70 to join Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk atop the leaderboard at the U.S. Open. It represents his 12th par-or-better score in 48 rounds at the U.S. Open (25 percent). Toms is making his 16th U.S.

Open start, with 10 made cuts and top-10 finishes in 2003 and 2007 (both T5).

On the PGA TOUR in 2012, the second-round leader/co-leader has won six times in 24 stroke-play events, most recently Jason Dufner at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.

The 36-hole cut came at 8-over 148 with 69 professionals and three amateurs advancing to

the weekend. The 8-over cut is the highest on the PGA TOUR since the 2008 PGA Championship (8-over 148). The last time the cut was higher was at the 2008 British Open (9-over 149).

First-round leader Michael Thompson recorded a 5-over 75 to fall to T4 at 1-over 141.

Phil Mickelson birdied the par-4 18th hole on Friday for a 1-over 71. At 7-over 147, he’ll enter the final round eight strokes behind the leaders. Mickelson has missed the cut just twice in 22 U.S. Open starts (1992, 2007). Mickelson has five runner-up finishes (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009) at the U.S. Open, the most by any player.

Players with four runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open: Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus.

Mickelson is making his 79th start in a Major Championship, with just seven missed cuts. Since 2000, he only has two missed cuts in the majors (2007 U.S. Open, 2007 British Open). Mickelson finished T10 at the 1998 U.S. Open at Olympic Club, one of nine top-10 finishes at the event.

Rory McIlroy posted rounds of 77-73 to miss the cut in his fourth U.S. Open start (T10-2009, MC-2010, 1-2011, MC-2012). He becomes the first defending champion to miss the cut at the Open since Angel Cabrera in 2008.

Bubba Watson, winner of the 2012 Masters Tournament, missed the cut with rounds of 78-71.

Matt Kuchar (70-73) is bidding to become the first player to win THE PLAYERS Championship and the U.S. Open in the same season. Seven players have won THE PLAYERS and the U.S. Open during their careers: Lee Trevino, Jerry Pate, Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Tom Kite, Lee Janzen and Tiger Woods.

Current FedExCup leader and two-time PGA TOUR winner Jason Dufner finds himself in contention again with rounds of 72-71 (T9). He is making his sixth U.S. Open start (MC-2001, T40-2006, 62-2007, T33-2010, MC-2011).

World No. 1 Luke Donald missed the cut with rounds of 79-72. The U.S. Open is the only major that he does not have a top 10. Donald has three at the Masters, two at the PGA Championship and one at the British Open.

Steve Stricker (T18) had the round of the day with a 2-under 68.

Second-Round Leaderboard

Tiger Woods 69-70—139 (-1)

Jim Furyk 70-69—139 (-1)

David Toms 69-70—139 (-1)

John Peterson 71-70—141 (+1)

Nicolas Colsaerts 72-69—141 (+1)

Graeme McDowell 69-72—141 (+1)

Michael Thompson 66-75—141 (+1)

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