Live – US Open

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    To get involved use Twitter (via hashtag #BBCgolf ) or text us via 81111 with GOLF before your message. (Not all contributions can be used. Messages will be charged at your standard operator rate.)

    Hogg, via text 81111: “What? Golf doesn’t need Rory to win. Rory needs Rory to win. And that’s it. Personally I’d like to see some competition, but not necessarily through McIlroy choking”

    1550: Kim and Donald both par the par-three second. Steady start from Donald but he’ll be needing some fireworks. Or is it just a case of chipping away and hoping those above you produce some bogeys?

    1547: South Korean YE Yang may trail by six he’ll be buoyed with memories of his first major victory two years ago. He trailed Tiger Woods by the same margin at the halfway point of the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National. Yang stormed to victory by three strokes in the final round. Last night 39-year-old Yang said: “That would be a good experience to draw on if I come into that situation again. I’ll probably remind myself Saturday morning again about that. It’s definitely a pleasant memory, and it can only do me more help than harm if I remember that going into the round.” Any Yang believers out there?

    1545: A six-shot lead. Unassailable? Will Rory stay cool over the next 36 holes? All the chat has been about McIlroy and rightly so but let me chuck you some thoughts on Yang. He’s got history for overcoming deficits and creating some shocks….

    1543: It’s not the world’s top player who gets the birdie on the first – it’s his partner Anthony Kim. Donald has to settle for a par and stay at even.

    Anon, via text 81111: “Sorry Greg from Romsey but golf needs Rory to walk away with this tournament. If Rory can get this Major in the bag with style, the final day of the Masters will never have happened and we can then see the true potential of Rory.”
    Oh Greg – I had a feeling that was a can of worms you opened there.

    1537: Donald and Kim (both +4) are off. The world number one will be desperate to impress in the second half of this event. Plenty to do.

    1535: Bubba Watson has had a nightmare start – bogey on each of his first two holes. He’s slipped back to +6.

    1525: One last apology for a slight hiccup in the internal calculator – that is my head. Just to avoid confusion – McIlroy tees off 2050 BST.

    1520: First birdie of the day goes to Adam Hadwin – a 23-year-old from Canada. Nice little start on the opener. Next pairing is Karlsson and Watson – oh yes. The mighty Bubba. But the mighty Bubbs bogeys on his first hole to send him to 5+.

    Greg in Romsey, via text 81111: “As much as all us Brits want McIlroy to win, we need him to come back to pack a little for the sake of a good tournament. I mean – look at that thrilling Masters we had when he slipped back. I’m sorry everyone but I want a competitive tournament where 15 players are in with a chance come back Sunday rather than a runaway leader”
    Wallop.

    1508: First up is Hadwin and Greyling. Donald and Kim tee off at 1530 BST. Kaymer and McDowell play from 1740. Harrington and Ishikawa at 1750. Westwood and Jacobson at 1830. Mickelson and Chappell at 1840. LoveIII and Slocum at 2000. Kim and Kuchar at 2020. Finishing up with Snedeker and Zach Johnson – 2030. Garcia and Garrigus – 2040. And the last couple to go out……McIlroy and Yang at 2050. What do you make of that little lot then?

    danpwright on Twitter: “Let’s hope that Rory’s massive lead doesn’t mean an even bigger choke in the final round.”
    The potential choke is obviously on the minds of everybody. Rory as well and he stated last night he needed to stay “mentally strong”. How do you think he’ll cope over the next 36 holes?

    1458: There are stats and records coming out of every inch of this keyboard and I’m sure you’ll have your own. But here’s another from Infostrada Sports: McIlroy is +1 for his first eight US Open rounds as a professional golfer (includes two rounds at Congressional). Tiger Woods was +16 for first eight US Open rounds as a pro (including four rounds at Congressional).

    1442: Rory McIlroy will tee off in the last group with YE Yang at 2050 BST. With first group teeing off at 1500 BST.

    1432: Confirmed…84 players miss the cut on a score of 5+ and worse. Tee times to follow hopefully.

    1425: Tee-times still to be confirmed but round three due to begin at about 1450 BST.

    Ian Poulter on Twitter: “So good to wake up with the kids bouncing on the bed. What US Open? I’m over it already. I hope Rory finishes it off in fine fashion”
    1410: Just had some nice audio passed my way. So why not check out Graeme McDowell’s words about Rory McIlroy’s chances of winning the US Open. The defending champ says a change in McIlroy’s putting action has been the key to his incredible form and believes no-one will catch his Northern Irish counterpart if he continues his rich vein of form.

    1400: No sooner had I said that, along comes a pair of bogeys for Ellis and Hutchins to slip them under the projected cut line. 5+ over and it’s not looking at all good for them.

    1351: I wouldn’t bet my house or furry slippers on this but it looks like there are currently two groups out on Congressional playing finishing off their second round. Tobiason Jr +7, Hutchins +4 (no more missed shots or he’s home), Smith +10, Whitehead +10, Wilcox +12, Ellis +4 (another player in danger of missing out).

    1337: A bit of an overview for anybody who wants to refresh themselves of yesterday (where the heck were you?) or for anybody who was visiting another planet on Friday….

    1327: A quick shout-out for the wireless coverage. BBC Radio 5 live sports extra will be going on air earlier and 5 live doing commentary from 2100 BST. 1945-2100 for sports extra. 2100-0030 for 5 live.

    1318: American Brandt Jobe was the highest-placed golfer needing to finish his round today and he pars the last (his only hole to play) to end up with a a tidy 70 to add to his 71 and he’s on a handy score of -1, tied for eighth spot.

    1309: Quite a day in prospect then. The second round gets going again at 1315 BST with the third round kicking off at about 1450 BST. Rory McIlroy will be swinging his clubs at about 2000 BST. Plenty of time for others to play catch-up. More on that shortly.

    1305: Afternoon. We’re almost at the halfway stage. There are 21 players still to complete their second round. But it won’t be long before round three gets going. Times, predictions, chat, analysis and a whole lot more coming your way. In about 12 hours we should have a better idea on who will be getting their hands on the US Open trophy. Enjoy the ride.

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    Live – US Open