US Open cut line watch as Tiger Woods holds advantage over six big rivals
Tiger Woods is on the cusp of missing the cut
REUTERS
Tiger Woods is right on the cut line heading into his second round at the US Open with players finding it difficult to score around the tricky Pinehurst No 2 course.
The US Open is notoriously seen as the toughest major with many over-par winners over the years.
Pinehurst is hosting the tournament for the fourth time with the last coming in 2014 when Martin Kaymer thrashed the field and Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler were the only other players to finish under par.
Players and their equipment have changed drastically since the US Open was last held at Pinehurst, but the North Carolina course still caught out some of the best golfers on Thursday.
Tiger Woods is on the cusp of missing the cut
REUTERS
Otto Black, Chris Naegel and Mackenzie Hughes were among a number of players who finished 10-over-par or worse.
Phil Mickelson has also left himself with a lot of work to do after carding a nine-over-par round of 79.
American stars Sahith Theegala and Justin Thomas similarly struggled as did European Ryder Cup star Viktor Hovland as the trio ended up seven-over-par through the opening 18 holes.
Webb Simpson and Will Zalatoris also need to find something else on Friday with the American duo five-over-par.
However, there was only 15 players who managed to break par in their opening round with Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy leading the way with impressive rounds of 65.
Woods is among a large group of players fighting around the projected cut line having carded a four-over-par round of 74.
The 15-time major champion momentarily held a share of the lead at the start of his round on Thursday with a birdie on his first hole.
But Woods went five-over-par in the space of seven holes to ruin his first round and leave him fighting for a spot heading into the weekend.
Tiger Woods finished four-over-par after the first round
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The top 60 players and ties make it through to the final 36 holes at the US Open.
Heading into Friday, that put the cut line at around two-over par and has since dropped at the start of the second round.
Birdies are proving difficult to find for all players with McIlroy going two-over-par on his front nine.
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Phil Mickelson faces a tough ask to make the cut
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That could play into the hands of Woods, who is part of the afternoon tee times on Friday.
He will still likely need to finish with a round close to par in order to give himself a chance of making it to the weekend.
This is the first US Open Woods is competing in since 2020 when he failed to make the cut at the Winged Foot Golf Club.
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