Santa Margarita's Hossler takes lead at U.S. Open

SAN FRANCISCO Not even Tiger Woods is immune from losing the U.S. Open lead. Nor is a teenager incapable of holding it. Amateur Beau Hossler who just completed his year in high school used two birdies around the Olympic Clubs turn to reach 2-under par and stand alone atop an anything-goes leaderboard. The 17-year-old Californian broke a tie with former Open champion Jim Furyk, who fired a 1-under-par 69 during the morning rounds. Australias Alistair Presnell was two shots back at even-par, opening his second round with four pars. Woods, who led briefly after a birdie at No.3, fell three shots back after a run of three bogeys midway through the front nine. Also there was Michael Thompson, Thursdays leader after an opening 66 but with two double bogeys on todays card. You have to realize at the U.S. Open that par is a really good score and youre going to make some bogeys, said Furyk, whose Open crown came in 2003 at Olympia Fields outside Chicago. Mentally you have to be in a good frame of mind. But overall, the course is winning. The Olympic Club is showing little mercy. Graeme McDowell is tied for eighth at 1-over after rounds of 69 and 72. But even hes struggling. My day was as equally as unenjoyable as yesterday, 2010 Open champion Graeme McDowell said after a 72 that left him at 1-over. It's tough to have fun out there; I have to be honest with you. It's just a brutal test of golf. The Olympic Club already has compiled high-profile victims, with world No.1 Luke Donald (11-over) assured of missing the cut and defending champion Rory McIlroy (10-over) likely to follow. The top 60 scores after two rounds, plus anyone tied for 60th, move into weekend play. Early projections place the cut at 8-over. That would also spell the end for Dustin Johnson, last weeks winner in Memphis, and Masters runner-up Louis Oosthuizen both at 9-over 149. Masters champion Bubba Watson (8-over) and Phil Mickelson (6-over) face the same challenge, playing in the same megawatt grouping with Woods. The 10-shot rule (10 shots from the leader) won't save them because there no longer is a 10-shot rule, to the surprise of some. USGA officials notified players in a memo, but some didn't get the message. Said Zach Johnson: "It's just odd that they didn't announce it." --Jeff Shain and Teddy Greenstein, Tribune Newspapers