Golf: Campbell bubbling, Tiger in trouble

Michael Campbell hit new heights at the US Open, while Tiger Woods produced his worst breach of golf's etiquette - one that could have cost him a lot more than embarrassment yesterday.

Campbell finished the second round tied sixth - only two shots off the halfway lead, after a five-bogey, six-birdie round of 69.

It's the first time in five attempts that the New Zealander has made the cut at a US Open, 10 years after his field-leading exploits in the British Open first brought him to the world's attention.

"It's nice to actually play all four rounds. My mindset this week has been pretty positive," said Campbell.

"I didn't put too much pressure on myself. I tried to have some fun out there, tried to treat it like a normal tournament and to ignore the huge crowds."

Meanwhile, for a guy who spent the week preaching patience on the demanding Pinehurst No 2, one of the US Open's toughest courses, Woods had a hard time keeping his.

After sending his opening drive onto a cart path and later raging at photographers who interrupted his swing, Woods dragged his putter, marking the ninth green - his last - in a show of disgust when he missed a short birdie putt.

Then, as he stepped off the green, he shouted an obscenity.

Woods drew a rebuke from the USGA for damaging the green - and some disapproving stares from the crowd for swearing. But he remained positive after a tidy finish for a one-over par 71 that left the Masters champion where he began the day, three shots off the pace, on course for a second major title of the year and his third US Open crown.

"Yeah, I get frustrated out there and excited but you try to keep everything as level as you possibly can," Woods said.

At the ninth, he had three-putted from the front edge of the green and, as he walked towards the cup, he pushed down on his putter, dragging it heavily on the green in frustration.

The putter clearly marked out a line several feet long, and Woods sheepishly tried to pat it down. "I wasn't exactly very happy with myself," he admitted. He didn't attempt to apologise for the incident, and wasn't penalised for the clear breach of golf's code.

The USGA said later that as Woods hadn't sought an advantage, there would be no penalty.

Campbell was in a four-way tie for sixth, with Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood at level par for two rounds.

Overnight leader, South African Retief Goosen - twice champion - held his nerve to retain a share of the lead with Olin Browne and unknown American Jason Gore.

South Korea's KJ Choi (70) and Australian Mark Hensby (68) were tied for fourth at one under. Spanish Ryder Cup player Garcia, who birdied two of his last three holes, was delighted with his effort.

"This is the toughest test in golf and I've just got to keep doing the same things," said Garcia, who sunk a 20-foot birdie putt at the ninth, his final hole.

It was not a day to remember, though, for world No 4 Phil Mickelson, who plummeted down the leaderboard with a dismal 77.

Winner of last year's US Masters, the American left-hander was one of many who struggled to cope with the tough pin positions and tumbled out of contention.

"The more you try to make birdies, the more bogeys you're going to make. I was just trying to salvage pars and had a tough time doing it." Mickelson, who had opened with a 69 in bright and breezy conditions, dropped six shots in his first nine holes.

But he was upbeat, saying: "I think 36 pars might have an outside chance of winning - and that's what I'm hoping for."

However, nobody has won the US Open with an above-par score since Andy North in 1978.

Among the few success stories in the second round was that of Sweden's Peter Hedblom, who shot a four-under 66 - the best US Open score ever at Pinehurst No 2. He was three over for the tournament.

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