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.