Heavy Showers Fail to Rain on US Open’s Parade

Heavy rain has failed to spoil a tournament full of surprises at the 109th U.S. Open golf championship in Farmingdale, New York.

In the event’s second round Sunday at Bethpage State Park Sunday, David Duval of the U.S. tied for fourth with Azuma Yano of Japan at three under-137. Duval had suffered a multi-year slump in falling to No. 882 in the world and said he considered quitting the sport, but got back up to par by winning regional preliminaries.

Ricky Barnes of the U.S. went from limp to the leader with a record score of eight under-132 with only one bogey through two rounds. He broke the previous 36-hole record of 133 set by Vijay Singh of the Fiji Islands and Jim Furyk of the U.S. in 2003.

Defending U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods of the U.S. barely managed to make the cut at three over-143. Eleven strokes behind Barnes and tied for 34th, Woods needs a miracle to defend his title.

Phil Mickelson of the U.S., who says he will dedicate the trophy to his cancer-stricken wife if he wins, ended the day tied for 12th at one under-139.

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