This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Ardmore, Pa. • It looks good for Mike Weir, not so good for Jay Don Blake, after the Utah golfers were forced off the course Friday night by darkness midway through round two of the U.S. Open at Merion.
That means they'll go back out early Saturday morning to complete play, then find out whether they've made the cut and can keep going the rest of the weekend.
The 43-year-old Weir, who started off the day at 2-over 72 when he finally teed off Friday night after a delayed first round, would appear to be in good shape at 5 over through 10 holes. But Blake, who endured a miserable stretch of six bogeys and a double bogey over nine holes, is in trouble. He's 11 over through 12 holes, with the cut projected be either 8 or 9 over.
After a birdie on No. 2 moved Weir within two shots of Open co-leader Billy Horschel (later tied by Phil Mickelson at 1-under), he began to lose ground.
A bogey on No. 3, followed by a double bogey on five and another bogey on seven, dropped Weir from the top 10 to his current position, tied with nine others for 33rd. Considering the top 60 — plus ties — get to play the rest of the weekend, the 2003 Masters winner seems likely to be among them.
On the other hand, Blake appears destined to be heading home early. Following his opening round 74, the oldest player in the 156-man field started well, getting a birdie on No. 2. Then things began to unravel.
Over the next nine holes the 54-year-old Blake dropped eight strokes to par, including a stretch from 8-11 where he went bogey, double bogey, bogey, bogey. He finally parred No. 12, at which point it was too dark to continue.
Unless Blake picks up his game considerably over the final six holes, his U.S. Open experience is about to end.