America is celebrating its 250th birthday on Saturday, but the way things transpired at sultry Scioto Country Club on Friday, the fireworks came a little early.
On another oppressive day in central Ohio – and there have been many this week – when it would have been quite acceptable for the field in the 46th U.S. Senior Open Championship to wilt in the 90-degree heat, the leaderboard was lit up with golf’s version of pyrotechnics.
George McNeill, who never broke 70 in five U.S. Open starts, produced the biggest noise in Friday’s second round, posting a championship-best, 4-under-par 66 to accompany his opening-round 68. He owns a two-shot lead over defending champion Padraig Harrington. He was among five competitors to shoot 67s on the classic Donald Ross design that was renovated seven years ago by Andrew Green.
First-round co-leaders Stewart Cink and Charlie Wi, both of whom posted even-par 70s, are three back at 3-under 137 with 2016 co-runner-up Miguel Angel Jimenez (68).
A large group at 138 includes U.S. Senior Open debutantes Henrik Stenson (67), Ben Crane (70), Tommy Gainey (69) and Ian Poulter (69) along with Stephen Ames (69), Alex Cejka (and qualifier Chris Devlin, a former college teammate of 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.
The cut came at 4-over 144 with exactly 60 golfers – 59 professionals and one amateur – getting inside the number. Play was completed just as a storm was approaching the grounds.
WHAT’S NEXT
Due to pending late-afternoon weather, Round 3 tee times have been moved up with the first groups going off at 6:45 a.m. EDT. Peacock/NBCSN will have live coverage from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., with NBC/Peacock showing coverage on a tape-delay basis from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are still available for both weekend rounds by clicking here.
NOTABLE
- A total of 18 amateurs began the week, but only one made the cut: Haymes Snedeker. The older brother of 10-time PGA Tour winner and 2026 United States Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker replaced Tiger Woods when he officially withdrew late last month. Haymes, the first alternate from the Pearland, Texas, qualifying site, made three consecutive birdies from No. 5 to post a 2-under 68 on Friday for a 36-hole total of 1-over 141.
- Shots like the one Chad Campbell produced late Friday afternoon on the par-3 ninth hole, his 36th of the championship, don’t always show up on highlight reels or the boxscore. His 9-iron to 2 feet set up a birdie that knocked out the 10 players sitting on 5-over 145. Campbell made the cut on the number (4-over 144).
- Five past champions survived to play the weekend. Besides Padraig Harrington, who is in solo second, Jeff Maggert, Colin Montgomerie and Gene Sauers made the cut. Sauers won at Scioto in 2016.
- Olin Browne and David Toms were the two past U.S. Senior Open champion to miss the cut. Other notables to miss the cut were two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, 2007 U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera, Davis Love III, reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion Michael McCoy, NBC/Golf Channel analyst Notah Begay III and Jay Haas, who saw his streak of consecutive made cuts end at 18. At 72 years of age, the 1975 USA Walker Cupper and former Wake Forest All-American was the oldest player in the field.
- Kevin Sutherland withdrew prior to the second round. No reason was officially given, but he has been dealing with back issues. Boo Weekley also withdrew during Round 2.
