US Open 2013 Golf Special

After two rounds at the US Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore,Pennsylvania,veteran golfer Phil Mickelson,who turns 43 on Sunday,and Billy Horschel,26,top the leader board of the 113th national championship.The course is playing extremely tough in its old age.On Friday,it was virtually a birdie-free zone.
Mickelson was a case in point,with his only birdie of the day being the eighteenth hole,bringing him back to first place,tied with Horschel,after several holes at even par.I wasn't expecting to birdie there,Mickelson said,I thought I would par.The US Open trophy has so far eluded him,although he has come in second five times.
Horschel was amazingly accurate,hitting every green in regulation for a total of 31 out of 36 in the first two rounds.Clearly the Floridian will not be disappearing anytime soon,with his stated ambition of becoming one of the world's best golfers.
The leaders after two rounds:
Billy Horschel(USA) -1
Phil Mickelson(USA) -1
Luke Donald(ENG) E
Steve Stricker(USA) E
Justin Rose(ENG) E
Ian Poulter(ENG) E
Cheng Tsung Pan(TAI) E
John Senden(AUS) +1
Nicolas Colsaerts(BEL) +1
Charley Hoffman(USA) +1
USGA Executive Director Mike Davis said Merion has always been tough on the score side.It forces you to think.Great architecture yields great golf.
World Golf Hall of Fame member Colin Montgomerie said it was amazing for Mickelson to still have that hunger to try and win a grand slam,to birdie the hardest hole on the course at the end of a long,hard day.
I think the winner so far has been Merion.There's no question about that.It's amazing how the greens have stopped people from scoring.They are as tough as the greens at Augusta.
I think adaptation was the key this week.I don't feel the players have adapted.You've got to adapt to the conditions.This course is one of the best.It has everything.You have options.It's one fantastic golf course.
Update:In Saturday's third round,Phil Mickelson took sole possession of the lead with his 1 under par 70.
The course continued to evoke frustration,but Mickelson overrode this with his determination and experience,scoring three birdies-an improvement over his one birdie in the second round.Charl Schwartzel,Hunter Mahan and Steve Stricker shared second at even par.

Rockets On Playoffs Track;Valero Texas Open

The Houston Rockets continued their drive to the NBA Playoffs by dominating the Portland Trailblazers Friday night 116-98.The Rockets bumped their record up to 43-33 on the strength of James Harden and Jeremy Lin's play.
Harden scored 33 points with 7 rebounds and 6 assists,and has scored at least 20 points 61 times this season,putting him in pursuit of Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon's record of 67 20-point games in a season.Olajuwon was a 12-time NBA All-Star and MVP in 1994.He also played for the Rockets nearly his entire career,retiring from the Toronto Raptors in 2002.The Nigerian-born,7-foot tall Olajuwon is the all-time leader in blocks;8th in total points scored;and 11th in rebounds.
Jeremy Lin contributed 22 points,4 rebounds and 8 assists to the Rockets' important win.For the Trail Blazers,LaMarcus Aldridge led with 32 points,13 rebounds and 3 assists,while Wesley Matthews notched 18 points,3 rebounds and 4 assists.
Portland is out of playoff contention.
Attending the game at the Rose Garden in Portland,Oregon were 20,400 fans.
At the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio,American Billy Horschel topped the leader board after the second round Friday at eight under par.Horschel,26,came in second at last week's Shell Houston Open and has made 9 of 10 cuts this season.He turned pro in 2009.
Former world number one Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland was still in contention Friday at five under par.
The Izod IndyCar Series moves to the Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds,Alabama for the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama on Sunday.The NBC Sports channel will carry the race live at 3pm Eastern.