Stevens Point, Wisconsin: Bernhard Langer avoided most of the trouble at SentryWorld in his first US Open. He was still far from unharmed on Friday’s 3-under 68 which gave him the lead going into the second round.
“Believe it or not, I had a three putt and hit a sand wedge from the middle of the fairway into a water hazard, which is painful when you think about it from 100 yards out,” the 65-year-old German star said after the morning run.
Langer had six birdies and three bogeys on the day after he had a birdie and bogey in the opening of 71. On Friday, he hit 12 of 14 fairways on a course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. with dense, rough, hard and inconsistent greens.
At 3-U139, Langer was one of only five players under par. The scoring average on Friday was 76.54, down from 77.34 on Thursday.
“The course is tough, but it’s fair, and it’s a great way to go,” said Langer. “I’m lucky because I’m playing well and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
Langer, winner of the 2010 US Open Senior Championship in Sahalee, Washington, won the Chubb Classic in Florida in February to tie Hale Irwin’s PGA Champions Tour win record of 45.
First-round leader Rod Pampling was hit in the back, following an opening 68 with a score of 72. The 53-year-old Australian had a birdie and two bogeys in the afternoon session.
“The putter has not cooperated as well as it did yesterday,” said Pampling. “Nothing to stress.”
Nationwide favorite Gerry Kelly (70) was under number one with two-time US Open champions Retif Goosen (71) and Dickie Pride (69).
“It was the Greens — I couldn’t tell the truth,” Kelly said. “Some of the fast shots weren’t fast. Some of the slow shots were fast.”
Goosen played alongside Langer.
“I played the same thing as yesterday,” Goosen said. “So hard, hard. I miss the right way, you pray for a decent half lie.”
Kelly and 2019 champ Steve Stricker — both from Madison, about 100 miles to the south — will play together on Saturday. Stricker shot a 70 to join two-time US champion Ernie Els (71) at par.
Sticker won his first two majors of the year, and took the Madison event three weeks early for his fourth win of the season.
“I’m over there,” said Stricker. “The results don’t go anywhere. It’s too hard. It’s too hard. If you don’t hit the right lane, you scramble.”
Langer sacrifices distance for accuracy, frequently hitting three woods instead of driver.
“I’m not the tallest player here, but I still feel many times that 3 Wood is the best club for me away from the shirt,” Langer said.
“Obviously, there’s the rough, but there’s a lot of water in play. Then you have the greens which are very rough sometimes as well. Four or five of them are really strong.”
Allen Doyle is the oldest winner in juvenile history, claiming the 2006 SentryWorld title at 57 years, 11 months, and 14 days.
“I’ll take two of the 68 seconds and let the rest of the field shoot for it,” Langer said.