US Open day two as it happened

0117: We’ve got 14 men under par, half of them at -1, including leading Englishman Robert Rock. America’s Brandt Jobe has just joined them after going birdie, eagle, par, birdie in his last four holes. Another eagle chance with the par-five ninth coming up but you’ll have to read about that in the morning as it’s time to put round two to bed.

0107: Nothing like leaving it late but Bubba’s birdied the last to all-but book his place for the weekend. The cut is projected to come at +4 and with only a dozen or so players out on the Blue Course, it doesn’t look like changing.

0100: Others going home early include England’s Justin Rose (+5), Paul Casey (+5), Ian Poulter (+6), David Howell (+10), Robert Dinwiddie (+10) and Matt Richardson (+16) and Scotland’s Stephen Galacher (+5) and Martin Laird (+5).

0055: Bubba has bogeyed 17 and he’s in big danger of missing the cut. The world number 12 is at +5 and is going to need to birdie the last or else he’s heading back down the eastern coast to Florida a couple of days earlier than planned.

0052: There’s still 20 or so players out on the course. Ryan Palmer among them. The American was among the early pacesetters on Thursday and he’s at -1 after 17 holes today. A strange round though. Three bogeys followed by three birdies, followed by a double bogey and that was just the front nine. Another bogey and a couple of late birdies coming in have left him handily placed.

0045: Disappointing end for Donald who hit four birdies in five holes at the back end of his front nine to get to level par but he appeared to run out of steam over the back nine with four shots going. Westwood in with a typically steady three-under 68. Lots of good par saving putts and just the one bogey on his card. If McIlroy starts moving backwards you can’t write the world number two off.

0042: Right then Luke, nudge this one in and go and have a cuppa. Oh, he’s missed it – left it out to the right and that’s a 72 to finish on +4 – he’s right on the cut line. Westwood and Kaymer in for pars and they will be back on Saturday at +1 and +2 respectively.

0041: Quickly back to nine and Love misses the tiddler. He’s back to -1 but he’ll be pretty chuffed with that I would have thought.

0040: The top three in the world finishing up on 18. Donald chips to five feet and he’ll have that for par. Westwood lining up a monster of some 60-70 feet- this goes up hill and down dale as it snakes 60-70 feet across the green and that’s six feet left for his par.

0038: Davis Love III has a sensible head on his 47-year-old shoulders. He chips sideways out of bother and then flips a wedge to four feet and he’ll escape with a par and sstart at -2 tomorrow. Els has a sight of the green but chips 20 feet past and his tournament is over.

0035: Here come Westwood, Donald and Kaymer down the last. Donald out the rough and he’s played safe, punching one down the middle of the fairway to the apron of the green. Westwood too shies away from the water down the left. But he’s on the far right of the green and that’s a massive two-putt coming up.

0030: Yang’s birdie putt on the last is its way and that meanders down to the side of the hole. A fine par to end a good round of 69. And that means that McIlroy will take a six-shot lead into round three of the US Open. It matches the record set by a certain Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach back in 2000. Woods went on to win that one by 15 shots if you like omens.

0028: When I say valley by the way. I do mean valley. That’s way too deep to be called a hollow. It’s nasty down there as well, overhanging branches, a bunker protecting the flag. Davis Love III, who is rolling back the years on -2, is also in there with Els.

0025: Yang safely on the 18th green. Here’s Els – the 1997 champion needs an eagle on the ninth to keep alive his hopes of playing this weekend. He clunks a metal wood down the fairway, but that gets caught up in the valley in front of the green. He’s +6, so he needs to chip in.

0022: Here’s McDowell on his up and down day – two birdies, three bogeys and a double: “I hung tough around the turn and that little storm delay killed a bit of momentum I had.” On Rory: “He’s a very experienced young man and his experience at Augusta will stand him in good stead at the weekend. You probably won’t get a better US Open layout that suits Rory McIlroy. You’ve got to drive it well and he’s one of the best drivers I’ve ever seen.”

0020: Harrington misses a par putt on the last and he’s +2 at the halfway stage. 2007 champion Angel Cabrera bows out at +8, while Stewart Cink also looks set to miss out after bogeying the last to go to +5.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-11 McIlroy
-5 Yang
-2 Z Johnson, Garrigus, Snedeker, Garcia, Kuchar
-1 Slocum, Rock, Quiros, Kim, Love III, Cauley

0014: Bubba Watson is +4 and he’s just missed a birdie putt on 16. Two holes left and he doesn’t want to be dropping either.

0011: Donald has sandwiched four birdies between four bogeys today. No birdies on the back nine and that continues when he pulls a putt on 17, in for par and he needs a par down the last to make sure he makes the cut.

0009: GMac from not quite six feet, more like four – eyes going at this time of night. GMac’s eyes going too – he pushes that wide and and he’ll begin round three tomorrow at +2, 13 shots behind Rory.

0003: Thanks for the chunky break Rob. GMac trying to save par at his last after hooking his second into a dreadful spot short of the par-five green. He chipped up and long by about 60 feet and and now has a six footer for par.

0000: YE Yang dabs a tentative birdie putt towards the 17th and it stops way short. He’ll stay two under for the day, five under overall and still six adrift of McIlroy. And with that, here’s Peter Scrivener to take you through the final few holes of the second round.

2355: Donald can’t get up and down from short of the green on the long 16th and has to settle for par to stay three over. Westwood dribbles his birdie putt right of the hole after catching the bunker to remain one over, while Kaymer grabs a birdie to edge back to two over. Matt Kuchar, meanwhile, goes to two under with a birdie at the ninth, his 18th.

2349: Germany’s Marcel Siem equals McIlroy’s 66 to reach halfway three over.

2347: A quick glance at the greens in regulation stats and Westwood has hit only 45% – deep in the bottom quarter of the field. McIlroy leads at 88.89%.

2345: Some very dark clouds around Congressional although the Blue Course is bathed in sunshine. Weather warnings in place but so far play continues

2340: What’s this I’ve spotted? Quiet progress up the leaderboard from world number six Matt Kuchar at one under after 17. Heath Slocum and Bud Cauley also one under. Other than Yang the only afternoon starters under par. Padraig Harrington misses a good birdie chance on 16 to stay one over.

2330: Donald gives his putt a thump on 15 and starts walking after it. He hates it and makes bogey. The wheels are wobbling – flirting with the cut now at three over. Westwood holes his for a birdie to get to one over.

2325: Kaymer leaks one right with his second to 15 as Westwood spanks one dead on line, about 15ft short. Donald’s drive was wayward and he is just outside Westwood in three.

2320: YE Yang in trouble on 15 but fires impressive pitch into six feet or so for three. He gives it a thump and the ball disappears and he steadies the ship with a par to stay four under.

2315: Luke Donald gives his 15ft par putt a fair whack on 14 and slides it four feet past but makes the one coming back to slip to two over. Playing partners Westwood and Kaymer both make par. Harrington bogeys 15 to slip back to one over.

2310: Pars at the short 13th for Westwood (+2), Kaymer (+2) and Donald (+1). Just to remind you of the cut – it’s top 60 and ties plus anyone within 10 shots, though that won’t count because McIlroy is so far clear. Currently looking at four over.

2305: Evening all. Been watching Rory McIlroy interview with BBC Northern Ireland’s Stephen Watson who asks whether he is intimidating field in same way Tiger did. Rory is bashful and says it’s just nice to see your name up there on the leaderboard. But these first two days have been Tiger-esque. The others can’t touch him.

2258: Sweden’s Johan Edfors putting together a nice 18 holes. Two birdies, two bogeys and he’s tied for eighth after 12 holes on -1.

2255: McDowell’s errant tee shot on four looking likely to lead to a double bogey. After chipping back into the fairway, he goes fractionally long with his approach to the green but his punishment is brutal. He tries to chip about two yards forward but the ball gets held up in the first cut. All a bit strange until he gets the flat stick out and hits his putt at right angles to the hole. He nudges it no more than a foot and the ball turns right and heads holeward. McDowell glowers after the ball which stays up and he’s back to +2.

2250: Westwood and Kaymer par 12, but Donald comes up short with his par putt and that’s a shot gone – back to +1. On 13 and Kaymer fires one pin-high – Westwood and Donald also putting but from 40 and 25 feet.

2245: The damp greens certainly helping ball control but for those in the rough..GMac showing just how tough it is on the fourth. His tee shot gets caught up in the long stuff and he can only advance 100 yards down the fairway. And Yang yo-yoing. He chips out of the vegatation but misses the par and he’s at -4 again.

2241: Back down the fairway at 12 and Donald chunks one out of a fairway bunker and he’s left himself a tricky 40-yard pitch over two bunkers to the hole. Westwood and Kaymer both on the putting surface. Up ahead on the par-three 13th and Yang is back in bother. He’s long and in the cabbage with not a lot of green to work with.

2238: YE Yang birdies 12 to get the shot back he dropped on the 11th. His approach spun to five feet and he knocked in the birdie putt. McDowell’s effort on the third misses and he stays level par.

2235: England’s Justin Rose flirting with the cut. He double bogeyed 16 to go to +4. He’s parred 17 and 18 and is on the first as he starts his second nine. Arguably the easier of the nine holes, but then are any holes easy at Congressional?

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-11 McIlroy
-4 Yang
-2 Z Johnson, Garrigus, Snedeker, Garcia, Slocum
-1 Rock, Quiros, Kim, Harrington, Cauley

2230: McDowell out of the fairway bunker on three and he smashes it 175 yards towards the green and leaves himself a 20-foot birdie putt. Bubba’s bunker shot goes a dozen feet long and his par putt dribbles 10 feet before calling it a day. Bubba shrugs and takes the bogey to go to +1.

2227: Harrington taps in from a couple of feet for birdie on 12 and the Irishman is -1 and putting together a decent round. Back on 11 and Donald rolls in a three-foot downhill par putt

2224: Bubba bunkered on 10. And I’ve bunkered myself. Yang’s putt was, of course, for par. He’s back to -4 and Rory’s lead is back up to seven.

2221: Another American, Russell Henley, is having a good day. Three birdies in his last five holes has put him up to -2 through 12 holes. He made his debut at Pebble Beach last year and finished tied for 16th. Yang fails to take advantage of his excellent chip but he will be happy with par from where he was after two.

2218: America’s Ryan Palmer on a bit of a charge. That’s three birdies in three holes to cancel out the three bogeys and he’s back to level for the day, -2 for the tournament. GMac going along nicely after dropping two shots on his first two holes. eight pars and a birdie since.

2213: On the second, Casey continues his yo-yo round with another bogey and he’s back to +5, but then he stiffs his approach on the third. YE Yang sends his second shot left and the crowd scurrying for safety on 11. He’s behind a tree, in the rough, with a bunker short of the green and a lake beyond it. It’s the shot of nightmares for your amateur but he flips it a foot over the bunker and stops it six inches short of the slope down to the water. Excellent.

2209: Moments later Kaymer leaves his birdie putt five feet short. Donald’s birdie putt is rolliong, rolling, curling, it’s short, by an inch. Kaymer confidently putts for par and Westwood follows.

2208: Bit of a blackout on coverage there – Westwood’s ball rolled on through the rough and into the bunker. Perhaps a stroke of fortune for the Worksop man and he hits a decent shot across the green but he’s got a six-footer for par.

2202: Here’s Luuuukke on 10 and he’s a shade left and a shade long, to the tune of 15 feet. Westwood is also left and long – a little more left and a little more long means he’s in the rough off the back of the green.

2158: YE Yang in a bunker on 10 and he flips it out to 18 inches. Lovely golf shot and that should be par. Casey hits back with a birdie on the first, his 10th and he’s at +4, the right side of the projected cut line.

2150: Westwood atones for his bogey on eight with a birdie on nine and he reaches the turn at two-under for the day and he’s now +2. Donald with his fourth birdie in five holes gets back to level. Bit of rain, more receptive greens – could someone go low this afternoon?

2146: A couple of blasts on the air horn and we’re back playing. Bubba’s brief cuddle with his baby seems to have done him the world of good as he finds the green on eight and has a 10-foot putt for birdie to go to -1. McDowell rolls in his first shot, a three-foot par putt on the 18th and he turns in +1 and is level for the tournament.

2143: Few stretches going on out there. Not too many mind. Just waiting for all the golfers to get back to their respective balls before play will commence. Yang, who birdied the ninth, heads to the 10th tee. Not the best of holes to come back to. A tricky par three over water remember.

2141: England’s Paul Casey will be heading straight to the first – he has nine holes to get his US Open challenge back on track. He double-bogeyed the 18th to slip to +5 and unless he picks up at least one shot he’s heading home tonight.

2138: Scottish golfers Stephen Gallacher and Martin Laird just the wrong side of the cut after posting three-over-par 74s today to finish on +5 and players starting to come back out on the course. The rain has cleared. Lots of blue sky and sunshine. Game on.

2118: Not sure how long we’re going to be golfless. But that looks a bit of a big storm sweeping through the course. Here’s a quick summary of the day. Rory McIlroy followed his 65 on the opening day with a 66 to lead on -11. He was on -13 but double bogeyed the last. YE Yang is the only one putting up much of a chase. He’s six shots back on -5 with nine holes to play in his second round.

2107: The weather warning signs are up on the leaderboards and all the golfers are marking their balls and marching back to the clubhouse. Just to reiterate, this suspension is due to the threat of electrical storms – nothing to do with the spot or two of rain in the air.

2105: PLAY IS SUSPENDED DUE TO THREAT OF LIGHTNING.

2055: Open champion Louis Oosthuizen having a disastrous front nine. Four bogeys and a double, with just one birdie and he’s dropped back to +2. But Yang is keeping up the pressure with another birdie on the ninth to go to -5 and McIlroy’s lead is down to six. He said in his post-round interview that we was probably going to watch a movie and take his mind off things – hope he’s gone already.

2052: Luuuuuukkkke. That’s three birdies in four holes for Mr Consistency and he’s up to +1. Westwood misses his par putt on eight though though and he’s back to +3.

2050: Thanks Ashenddos – tremendous stint in the chair today. Wish I’d gone for the noodles myself rather than the slightly under-cooked and tepid jacket potato from the BBC canteen – can only hope the new catering facility in Salford churns out better scran.

2047: It pains me to say toot toot again but the boy Scrivener is chomping at the bit and I’ve got some noodles to get stuck into. Thanks for your company today. More drivel tomorrow. Bye bye for now. Sleep well Rory.

2041: Heath Slocum makes third spot his own as a birdie on the ninth – his fourth of the round – and he’s crept up to -3.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-11 McIlroy
-4 Yang
-2 Z Johnson, Garrigus, Snedeker, Garcia, Slocum
-1 Rock, Quiros, Kim, Edfors, Cauley

2032: Bubba Watson not quite doing enough – he started brilliantly with a birdie but has followed that up with two bogeys and a pair of pars. +1. American Ryan Palmer having a shocker. A par three and then three bogeys and he’s slid down to +1.

2027: Matt Kuchar picks up a shot with a birdie on the 16th (his seventh). And those eight shots that McIlroy is leading is now down to seven. Yang bangs in a sweet birdie on the par-three seventh. -4. He looks pretty happy with that.

2017: Japan’s 19-year-old Ryo Ishikawa gets his second birdie of the day to move up to +3. This boy is not only in bright pale blue, he’s sporting the world’s biggest sponsorship motif on his cap. He could almost carry his clubs in that hat. I’m not sensing this boy is a shy one. Lively start though.

2015: G-Mac has steadied his game and after his opening two bogeys, he’s carded four straight pars. One over.

2012: Yang hanging in there with six pars. Still eight shots adrift. Jason Day of Australia grabs a birdie on the 13th and he moves to one under.

2004: So a bit of a poor opening for the world’s top three. Kaymer is five over after two bogeys on his first five holes. Westwood and Donald both on +3. A birdie on the fifth gives the top player (Donald) some hope of survival.

1958: A shocking start for South African Louis Oosthuizen. Two bogeys in the first four holes and then a six on the par-four 14th sends him spiralling to two over. Not pretty. Plenty of colour on the card of Angel Cabrera . One par, two bogeys, a double bogey and now a birdie – he’s on three over. Westwood taking it easy – one birdie and three pars. Three over and a couple more mishaps and he could be heading home at the weekend. And more misery for Luke Donald – a bogey on the par-four fourth. Four over. Luke – you may be home for a roast dinner on Sunday.

1955: Heath Slocum is on the move. A third birdie in six holes gets him to two under. Harrington’s card looks like par, par, bogey, par par. He’s on one over.

1951: McDowell misses his chance of a birdie with a putt that drifts to the right. Still too much green on his card. Yang in the sandy stuff but does well and looks like a par. Donald misses a chance for a birdie. A reminder – projected cut at +5. Paul Casey (+4) has his work cut out.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:-11 McIlroy-3 Yang -2 Z Johnson, Garrigus, Snedeker, Garcia-1 Rock, Quiros, Kim, Slocum, Love III, Palmer

1940: Yang, the only man in second spot eight shots behind you know who, starts the day with four pars. He’s stuck on three under. Ryan Palmer opens up with a par on the par-three 10th. He’s on two under.

1932: Davis Love III has made a lively start – bogey, birdie and and is on one under. Stewart Cink is another with a sloppy start to day two – three bogeys on his card already in his first four holes. He’s on two over. Luke Donald has three pars to show for so far today. He needs some fireworks. Westwood is par, birdie, par so far. Another man looking for some sparks.

1928: McDowell will be desperate for a birdie after his two bogeys and he drills one into within 12 feet on the par-three 13th. Good chance for the defending champ to get some pink on his card.

1926: Thank you Peter. I was accused of talking drivel earlier. If anybody finds my drivel too much, please pull me up.

1922: Bubba Watson starts his round with a birdie to go to -1. Big Bubba appears to be wearing the same gear as in round one. Suitcase lost en route? Or a simpler explanation? All you Casey fans out there – he parred 13 – it appears as though I was watching a recording of his trials on the 12th, where he did take two to get out of the bunker. He’s still at +4 though, one clear of the projected cut. I’m taking a breather. Here’s Ash.

1918: Chad Campbell on the par-three seventh and that gets a nice bounce off the bank on the edge of the green and it’s going in…oh…that misses by a whisker. In for a welcome birdie though, which moves him to +5.

1914: Westwood is moving in the right direction though – he’s dropped in that birdie putt on the second to get to +3, alongside Donald, who had a two-putt. Kaymer drops to +4 after failing to get up and down from the bunker.

1908: Ernie Els has fond memories of the Congressional, having won in the US Open here in 1997. But he will struggle to erase that memory of his 2011 visit. That’s a three-putt from 18 inches by the South African on the par-three 10th. England’s Paul Casey in a spot of bother on 13, leaving the ball in the bunker with his escape attempt. He’s already bogeyed 11 and 12 today and is at +4 – cut now projected at around +5.

1906: Quick nip to the par-three second and Donald and Westwood will have birdie putts from 12 and eight feet respectively, while Martin Kaymer is in the sand. Back at the 11th and McDowell has missed that par putt and another shot goes.

1905: Leading Englishman Robert Rock on his start to the US Open: “It helps the course is a bit softer. I haven’t had to see exactly the right line off every tee or the perfect place on the greens. I’m still playing well after last week’s performance but I completely ran out of steam on the back nine. It’s a shame really. There are a lot of chances out there but I just didn’t have the energy to hit the shots I wanted to. They weren’t going the right distance and it’s finally caught up a little bit. Thankfully I can go to sleep now and see if I can get something for the weekend because it’s going to get harder. I’m still playing good so if I can find some energy I’ll be alright.”

1904: And McDowell leaves his 30-foot putt from the fringe four feet short. Another tester for par coming up…

1902: GMac comes up short on 11 with his approach from the fairway – that’s a lengthy birdie chance. Playing partner and Open champion Louis Oosthuizen shows him how to reach the flag with a glorious iron to to a few feet.

1900: Westwood under way and he’s in the thick stuff off the first tee but he’s controlled his approach and is at the back of the green, 15 feet away. Luke Donald, from the middle of the fairway, skips his ball through the green, a couple of feet beyond Westy. The world number one is down in two for par and stays +3. Westy does likewise and he’s +4.

1856: America’s Heath Slocum is on a charge. He’s birdied his first two holes and is among six golfers on -2.

1850: Major-winner YE Yang of South Korea, who won the US PGA Championship in 2009, pars the first to stay second at -3, eight shots adrift of leader McIlroy.

1849: Stat-atack from Infostrada for you: 131 shots is the joint-2nd best 36-hole lead in a major – only (Sir Nick) Faldo (130, at the 1992 Open) did better. GMac missed that par putt, but steadies himself to roll in the return for a bogey and he’s back to level.

1845: Robert Rock will be turning up late to every tournament after knocking in a birdie on his last to reach halfway at -1.

1844: Defending champion, and fellow Northern Irishman, Graeme McDowell has just got his second round under way on the par-three 10th. He’s lobbed it straight in the sand over the back of the green – better that than short and in the water though. He flips out and has a chance of par.

1842: Want a bit more from Rory? Okay, here you go: “I still have to be aggressive but you really need par golf for the way in. That could be good enough but I also need to keep playing the way I have been playing and make very committed swings. I will have a quiet afternoon. I’m hitting well and putting good so I don’t need to practice. I might watch a movie and get my mind away from everything that’s happened over the last couple of days.”

1840: Rory McIlroy’s thoughts on his round coming right up…on the last hole and playing into the water: “I got a bit of grass caught under my blade – it turned over and unfortunately it went into the water. It would have been great to get up and down for bogey. But you can’t dwell on it. I played 35 very good holes and that’s what I need to focus on. “I just feel comfortable with my game and on this course and I’ve tried to keep it very simple.”

1830: While we wait for the afternoon starters to get moving, let’s have a look at who’s propping up the leaderboard. America’s Ty Tryon, who was bottom after round one on +13, staged something of a recovery with a +2 today, including an eagle two on the first, his 10th. So, who’s bottom now you ask? Well, that would be England’s Matt Richardson at +16. He started with a 77 on Thursday and then had seven bogeys and two double bogeys in his 81 today. He did birdie his penultimate hole though.

1825: There’s Westwood strolling round the practice putting green with a bucket of balls in hand. He’s got a lot of work to do today. He’s at +4 remember. Another Englishman, Paul Casey, is off at the 10th. He finds the dancefloor, although that’s a lengthy putt to begin with.

1822: Here’s third-placed Sergio Garcia on his level-par round: “I didn’t play very good – the course was playing a bit easier because of the rain but I didn’t drive the ball or hit the irons like I did yesterday – overall, it’s probably not a bad round.” And on McIlroy: “I hope he wins – he deserves it – he’s a wonderful kid.”

1818: Fellow Englishman Robert Rock is one-over for the day but he’s playing the par-five ninth, his last hole and barring any calamaties he’s set for the weekend. He should be very happy with that and the $17,000+ cheque he’ll pick up for making the cut will cover the 200-mile cab ride he had to take from New York to the course in the early hours of Thursday morning.

1815: England’s Ian Poulter misses a six-foot birdie putt on the ninth, his last and he jabs his putter into his foot in frustration. How crucial could that miss be? That’s a two-over round of 73 for Poults and he’s at +6 with the halfway cut projected around +6 at present.

1812: I feel a bit deflated after that finish. Was willing Rory to go bogey-free through the first two rounds. Anyway, here’s what’s coming up. Second-placed YE Yang is out in the next half hour or so – he’s only eight shots off the pace. Defending champion Graeme McDowell is at -1 and also out at 1835 BST while world numbers one, two and three Donald Kaymer and Westwood are following at 1846. Plenty to keep us going through the evening I think you’ll agree.

1803: Mickelson misses the bogey putt and that’s two gone for Lefty. And McIlroy has missed too. 35 holes without a bogey and then two come along on the same hole. A disappointing end to what had been a flawless round. But, let’s not forget, he’s just carded a five-under-par 66 and he’s at -11, eight shots clear of the field. Phil is at +1 after a two-under-par 69. Playing partner Dustin Johnson should make the weekend after a level-par 71 leaves him at +4.

1800: McIlroy is first to drop and he flicks a short wedge, from no more than 20 yards, to the right of the pin, allowing the slope of the green to bring the ball to within 10 feet of the hole. He’s got that for a bogey though – his first of the tournament. Phil, the usual master of these shots, fluffs it a little and he’s 15 feet away.

1755: Double splash on 18. And Rory has followed Mickeslon into the drink. Big Phil threaded his shot through the trees but got too much action on the ball which flirted with the green, but slipped down the banking to its watery grave. And moments later, Rory made his first big mistake, hooking into the pond.

1752: The Italians are just finishing up and Edoardo Molinari comes out tops with a one-under-par 70. His brother Francesco ends the second round at +7 and will more than likely miss the cut. But youngster Matteo Manassero will make the weekend after finishing on +4.

1748: Ah the luck of the Irish, to be sure. McIlroy’s ball sitting nicely on the trampled down grass and he will have a shot at the green. It’s a beautiful looking hole but it’s not a shot you, or I, would fancy with water protecting the front and left of the green and bunkers back and right.

1745: He’s human. McIlroy is human. He’s only gone and pulled his drive left. Spectators ducking and diving but he’s not too far off the fairway. Not to be outdone, Mickelson leaks one even further left. Over on the ninth, Sergio Garcia knocks in a par putt to finish level for the day and -2 for the tournament. Three birdies, three bogeys and a solid round.

1742: Our current clubhouse leader is Robert Garrigus – he’s followed his first-round 70 with another one-under-par round and he’s at -2. Think that score is going to be eclipsed in the next 10 minutes or so.

1737: “This is getting boring,” says my esteemed co-commentator Mark Ashenden as McIlroy strokes his putt into the middle of the 17th hole for his sixth birdie of the round, to add to his eagle on eight. The Northern Irishman is the first golfer to reach -13 during the US Open. When Tiger Woods won by 15 shots at Pebble Beach in 2000, his finishing score was -12. I think Ash had his tongue firmly lodged in his cheek but I’m sure he’ll explain himself a little later.

1735: Mickelson also enjoying a decent day at the Congressional. He’s had five birdies and he’s at -1 for the tournament. Lovely putt from the front egde of 17 and he should be in for par. Johnson judges a big left-to-right swinger almost to perfection and nudges in for par.

1732: Is there anybody else out on the golf course? I’ll take a check round the scores in a minute. But here’s Rory again with another delightful iron into the green. That’s 15 out of 17 greens in regulation so far today and he’s 10 feet from another birdie.

1725: Another drive bisects the fairway on 17 and McIlroy can do no wrong. He is on course to be the first player to record a score of better than -9 at the halfway stage of the US Open. Nobody has led by more than six shots either.

1723: A quick manual refresh if you would be so kind to get text commentating names in their right places. Mickelson sends a 40-foot putt up and down and round and about the 16th green and it slides just by the hole. Here’s McIlroy for eagle and…oh…that kisses the lip of the hole but stays out. The tiniest of tap-ins for birdie – he’s -12 and leading by an astonishing nine shots! A bit of a disservice for Rory there – that 4 iron was more like eight feet away. Mickelson also in for birdie.

1713: Afternoon all. Let’s get straight to the action. And here’s the man of the moment, Rory, in the middle of the 16th fairway with a four iron in hand. A smooth swing and the ball disappears off into the distance. Where’s that headed? Come on, you should know by now. It’s a dozen feet from the flag – he’s got that for another eagle.

1709: Right folks. As the second group of players squeeze into their pastel-coloured shirts (or army slacks if your name’s Bubba), I have the pleasure in handing over text duties to Monsieur Scrivener. I may well be back later but by that time McIlroy may already have won this thing. Fear not – plenty of drama left in this yet. Thanks for all your thoughts. Toot too for now.

1702: A reminder of the threesomes who will be starting soon. Harrington, Cabrera and Cink off at 1824. McDowell off at 1835. Donald, Westwood and Kaymer tee off at 1846.

1657: Mickelson battles back with his all his guile and experience but it’s only worth a par at the 15th. He’ll settle for that though and stays at even. McIlroy keeps it cool with a steady eddie par to stay eight shots ahead of the field.

1654: Garcia storms back with a birdie on the sixth to move up to two under.

1648: Zach Johnson drops a shot on the 14th to fall back to two under. The American is just letting it slip after his earlier eagle and two birdies.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:-11 McIlroy-3 Z Johnson, Yang-2 Kim, Palmer, Oosthuizen

1645: Smiles all round for Charley Hoffman who birdies the 11th. With respect to the great man, somebody needs to have a word with his barber. I’ll say no more.

1641: A shout-out for the Scots. Stephen Gallacher has two bogeys and a birdie on his card and is doing OK on three over. Martin Laird has carded five bogeys and a pair of birdies to be on five over.

1634: All going sweetly for Robert Rock as well. A bogey on the 18th wasn’t what the golf doctor ordered but the Italian Open champion has hit back with a birdie on the first hole. He’s up to one under.

1629: Hello! Mickelson holes that tricky one for birdie on the 14th and he’s back to even. Three under for the day. Clenched fists all round. And the lead is EIGHT. McIlroy bags another birdie. 11 under. Brilliant.

1627: Mickelson’s iron hits the bank on the 14th green and he’ll have a tricky birdie putt. McIlroy, however, could not be looking more relaxed and he lofts one into within three – four feet. Immense.

1621: Another par for McIlroy. The lead is still seven. Nobody else really making a march just yet.

1617: Graeme McDowell gets going at 1835 and has been enjoying watching McIlroy today. The defending champ says: “I’ve tuned in to see the pin positions but he’s playing phenomenally. We’re all playing for second place right now and we need to to try to punch a hole into his lead. He’s making it look easy. A bit of rain last night has softened the greens so there is a chance to score a bit today.”

1614: It had to happen didn’t it….Garcia gets another bogey on his card to get back to one under. Fourth bogey for Charl Schwartzel. Even. Mickelson’s staying steady on one over, while Steve Stricker pulls another one back with birdie on the 13th – that’s his fourth birdie of the day as he goes back up to one over. Francesco Molinari on seven over now. Messy stuff.

1611: A fourth successive par for McIlroy but his lead remains at seven. Comfie.

1602: Mickelson’s fire has been dampened somewhat. Three birdies and then a bogey on the par four 11th. He’s down to one over. Bo Van Pelt having a cracking day – three birdies and no bogeys and he’s on two over. Steve Stricker was having a cracker – three birdies but he’s just blighted his card with a bogey on 11. Two over. Andres Gonzales – the man with the finest facial hair in golf (possibly) – is on four over but he’s four under for the day.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-10 McIlroy
-3 Z Johnson, Kim, Yang
-2 Garrigus, Garcia, Palmer, Oosthuizen

1554: Another par for McIlroy – three in a row. He’s capitulated. (Joke – just in case). There’s no holding back Korean Kyung-tae Kim though – he’s roared back up the table with three successive birdies to get to three under. Zach Johnson bogeys the 10th and slips to three under. McIlroy’s lead back to seven. Easy-peasy huh.

1542: Charl Schwartzel not having a great day as he bags his third bogey to drop down to one under. Mickelson pars the ninth and 10th to stay steady at even. Best performer of the day so far is Luke Glover. Four birdies on his opening nine holes. He’s one over. A very steady half a round no? By the way – when I mentioned shocking earlier, there was a large streak of sarcasm attached but thank you for the suggestions for alternatives such as blinding.

1540: Record-breaking territory for Rory. No player has ever been better than nine under through two rounds of the US Open and nobody has led by more than six at the halfway point.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-10 McIlroy
-4 Z Johnson
-3 Garrigus, Yang
-2 Kim, Garcia, Palmer, Oosthuizen

1530: Another par for McIlroy on the 10th. The boy’s still flawless after 28 holes at this year’s US Open. Eight birdies, one eagle, 19 pars. Incredible stuff. What next for Rory for his next 44 holes? Text or tweet me.

1522: Another player tearing into the hallowed turf. Lucas Glover cards his third birdie and moves to two over and three under for the day. Not such a great day for Bubba Dickerson – three bogeys, a birdie and a double bogey. Three over after his 70 yesterday. And a fourth birdie for Andres Gonzales – four over in total. A good day though. Rickie Fowler finally gets a birdie which will be some relief after his two earlier bogeys. Four over.

1520: Calm down….McIlroy pars the ninth….he remains on 10 under.

1514: Somebody else to look out for is Zach Johnson. After his eagle on the sixth, the American cards a birdie on the eighth and moves to within six of McIlroy on four under. Garcia keeps it steady and is on two under. Six straight pars for Rock.

1510: Korean Kyung-tae Kim has undone all his good work with two bogeys and a double bogey wiping out his two birdies. He’s dropped to even. Alvaro Quiros picks up a birdie to bounce back from his two earlier bogeys. He’s on even. And Mickelson is now officially on fire. Three birdies and he’s now on even and three under for the day. Watch out – Lefty is climbing. Meanwhile, The Hoff (Charley Hoffman) cards his fifth successive par for the day. Scott Hend in free-fall. A 69 yesterday and three bogeys and a double bogey today. Three over.

1508: And Garrigus is American. Cripes. Two foul-ups in one entry. I’ll get my coat….see you later…

1505: A test I say, yep I’m testing you. I’ve not read a text or tweet yet picking me up on it, but I mentioned that Garrigus had moved up the leaderboard with another bogey. I’m a buffoon. A fruitcake. Just stupid perhaps. Reading your messages about McIlroy has got me revved up and I clearly meant birdie. A million apologies. Typing fingers do strange things when they’re excited. They take over from the brain sometimes.

1500: If Rory is ripping up Congressional, American Robert Garrigus is nibbling away as he cards his second birdie of the day to get up to three under.

1447: McIlroy pars the seventh to remain on eight under. Dustin Johnson has settled with two pars and is on six over, while Mickelson….bags two birdies and is back to one over. Lefty is back – official.

1445: Garcia is Mr Topsy-Turvy. This is his round so far – par, bogey, par, birdie, par, bogey, birdie. This boy aint dull. Back to two under for the 31-year-old Spaniard.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-8 McIlroy
-3 Johnson, Yang
-2 Garrigus, Senden, Garcia, Schwartzel Palmer, Oosthuizen

1440: Here’s some nice news. American Ty Tryon. An 84 on day one. And starts day two with an outward nine that includes two bogeys and a pair of double bogeys. His score was 19 over. He may be lying at the bottom of the table in 156th spot but you want to know about what he’s just done on the first at the start of his incoming nine? An EAGLE….yep, an eagle two on the par four – the second eagle of the whole tournament so far. Brilliant. He’s only 25 shots behind McIlroy.

1429: It’s going to be one of those days for Sergio me thinks. Garcia bogeys the par four 15th and slips to one under. Worse for Schwartzel as the South African cards his day’s second bogey to be on one under and two over for the day. Keep an eye out for Aussie Aaron Baddeley – he’s just birdied the 13th and is slowly chipping away on one under.

1426: Another lively group to keep an eye on…..Poulter birdies the 12th and gets three pars to get back to three over. Mahan and Fowler both one over for the day and four over in total.

1420: Korean Kyung-tae Kim is back on the move. His second birdie of the day takes him to three under. Yang goes out at 1835. Palmer another late starter. Fancy the Swedes? Peter Hanson not doing so great with three successive bogeys and he’s on four over.

1415: Another par for McIlroy to keep it steady at seven under. Pars also for Garcia (two under), Garrigus (two under), Schwartzel (two under). Plus two pars for the mighty Rock who’s sitting pretty on one under.

1409: If you’re wondering what the heck has happened to the defending champ, fear not. McDowell gets going at 1835. Other late starters are Casey, Choi and Kuchar at 1824. Harrington, Cabrera and Cink at 1824 (on the first tee). Donald, Westwood and Kaymer tee off at 1846.

1406: Not the best of days for Aussie Scott Hend so far. A 69 yesterday but two bogeys and a double bogey and he plummets to two over. Four over for the day.

1400: Better news for Garcia fans. A birdie at the par three 13th gets him back to two under. Not so good for Schwartzel who bogeys the fourth and slips to two under.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-7 McIlroy
-3 Yang
-2 Kim, Garrigus, Senden, Garcia, Schwartzel, Palmer, Oosthuizen

1346: Not great news for Italian golf fans. Francesco Molinari had seven bogeys on his card yesterday and he’s had a shocking start. A single bogey on the 10th and a double bogey on the 11th. Seven over. That spaghetti may not be tasting so hot later on.

1343: Korean Kyung-tae Kim cards a bogey to cancel out his earlier birdie. He’s two under now, four behind McIlroy. American Robert Garrigus birdies the fifth to get to two under. While Steve Stricker is blowing the course away with two birdies and a pair of pars (Try saying that after a couple of sherberts). He’s two over but making a move.

1335: What’s the story Rory? Round two and three pars. Colin Montgomerie will be liking this. All about patience this right? Australian John Senden is making a mark near the top – a bogey and two birdies gets him to two under.

1332: American Zach Johnson has opened up with a par and birdie to get to one under. Spaniard Alvaro Quiros has made two bogeys in his first three holes – hope those Spanish boys aren’t dragging each other down. Jimenez keeping it cool with two pars. Way to go Migs.

1327: I fear we may have bigged up Sergio too much. Garcia bogeys the 11th and drops to one under.

1322: Best start of the day so far goes to American Andres Gonzales. Three pars and two birdies gets him to six over. Surely he’ll improve on yesterday’s 79.

1320: Steady stuff from Rory. Another par and he remains on six under. More pars for partners Johnson (+4) and Mickelson (+3).

1318: A bit of a stinker from Brazilian Alexandre Rocha. An opening round 69 but he’s started today with a bogey and double bogey and two pars to drop to one over.

1311: The first hole is out of the way for the overnight leader. A shaky start you think? Rock-steady I’d say. It’s a par for McIlroy and he stays at six under. Pars also for Mickelson (three over) and Dustin Johnson (four over).

1307: The Spanish trio have completed the opening par three 10th. Garcia and Jimenez make steady pars. Quiros has racked up a bogey and slips to one over.

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-6 McIlroy
-3 Kim, Yang, Schwartzel
-2 Hend, Garcia, Palmer, Oosthuizen

1302: As McIlroy sets off on round two, it seems all this Bubba chat has caused Mr Dickerson’s clubs to go a little awry. Bubba Dickerson started the day with three pars on one under – he’s just bogeyed the fourth and slipped down below even. C’mon Bubba.

1257: What age would you say is when maturity fully kicks in? About 41? Phil Mickelson had a bit of a shocker yesterday on his birthday with a 74 and spent half the day walking through the trees and shrubbery at Congressional. He still came out smiling though and said: “This actually turned out to be a great day, because I played horrific.”
Fair play to the great man. Still time for Lefty to hit back and win his first US Open do you think?

1250: And the almighty Ben Crane has also started – a par at the 10th. I say almighty because 36% of my head is still seeing his video with Watson and Hunter singing Oh Oh Oh. I won’t say anymore because several punters ripped my head off and were disgusted at their video! Although a few did come back to me and inform me of their admiration. Either way – Ben Crane Oh oh oh – Youtube…..do it. And that’s the last time I’ll mention it. (probably)

1248: There’s hope for you Aussie golf fans. Nope – not Adam Scott. It’s Scott Hend who’s just started his second round. A par four at the opener but he’s just four off the pace and looks in great shape.

1243: McIlroy’s three-shot lead is the biggest first-round lead at the US Open in 35 years. He has held the first-round lead in three of the last four majors. Two months ago, he had a four shot lead heading into Sunday at the Masters but melted down and shot 80. Any signs of that today or over the weekend do you think? He seems a pretty calm and cool-headed customer to me. He said last night: “I took the experience from Augusta, and I learned a lot from it. I just need to keep it going. I played really good out there, didn’t make any mistakes, which in a US Open is huge.”
Any other advice you’d offer Rory ahead of his round today which starts in 10 minutes?

1239: Korean Kyung-tae Kim started the day hot on the heels of McIlroy on two under and he’s kicked-off (football parlance I know) with a birdie at the opening 10th. He’s joined Yang and Schwartzel on three under. Remember – McIlroy is at the top three ahead on six under.

1229: Talking of Bubbas…..did anybody do their bit and hunt down a British Bubba for me? Bubba Watson gets going at 1908 later. Shame – was looking forward to seeing what the great man was wearing.

1226: Aussie Scott Barr may have been hoping for a better day today after his 75, but he’s started with a double bogey on the 10th. An ironic OOFFF. Meanwhile, England’s Robert Dinwiddie has blazed out of the blocks with a birdie at the first. He needs all the tweetering holes he can get after a 78 yesterday. American Bubba Dickerson has begun with two pars and is on even.

1207: So who are you all looking out for today? Any golfing dreams last night of Mickelson firing a 62 and winning his first US Open? Garcia turning back the clock and getting his hands on some silverware? Perhaps Luke Donald tricked us all with his scratchy effort yesterday and he’ll roar back today. How about some more heroics from Robert Rock? Give me your predictions, dreams, tips and anything you want really…..it’s a long day. There’s plenty of time for everything.

1205: McIlroy leads by three shots. He’s off at 1255 BST, along with Dustin J and Mickelson who ended up with a 74. Harrington, McDowell and Donald all out later after 1800 BST. And there’s that cheeky Spaniard we all love to love, Sergio Garcia, who’s off at 1244 BST with his two Spanish chums. What awaits us today?

1157: Morning. Here we go again. Round one started with a gentle pitter-patter. Luke Donald looked good then nose-dived. Phil Mickelson hacked around the course. Sergio Garcia bobbed and weaved and smiled his way round for a stunning 69. And it was left for 22-year-old Rory McIlroy to steal the headlines and end the day at the top of the leaderboard. Plenty more drama today. Round two coming your way.