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Australian Stuart Appleby sank a monster birdie at the final hole to lead the great Tiger Woods by one stroke after the second round at the US Open.
On another outstanding day for the Australian contingent, Appleby ran in an unlikely 15-metre putt at the par-five 18th to card a one-under-par 70 at demanding Torrey Pines.
“Everything feels really good. I’d just like to keep playing like this,” he said after posting a three-under 139 halfway total, with Woods breathing down his neck after storming home with five back nine birdies for a sizzling 68.
American Rocco Mediate and Swede Robert Karlsson also trail by one stroke, while two other Australians, Geoff Ogilvy and Robert Allenby, are three shots behind in a tie for ninth.
But it wasn’t a good day for Adam Scott who, playing with Woods and Phil Mickelson, struggled at times, a near hole-in-one at his 17th hole, where he hit the pin, the highlight of a 73 that leaves him seven shots off the pace.
Appleby has won eight times on the US PGA Tour, more than any other current player without a major, but he seems to finally be getting the hang of how to play the four big ones and is Australia’s best performer over the past five majors.
His birdie at the last came after his second shot stopped in a divot, from where he barely found the front of the green.
But not to worry, he perfectly read more than one metre of break into his long putt, and executed perfectly.
“I thought it’s late in the day, these putts are getting a bit slower, just hit it’, typical stuff when you’re at 50 feet,” he said.
“I hit it and it doesn’t look good, because it doesn’t have that feeling off the putter, and then a couple of seconds out I thought ‘this could go in’.”
Appleby, who as with Woods had knee surgery two months ago, can only hope that the world No. 1 cools off over the final two rounds.
Woods’ putter caught fire on his inward half as he made putts from everywhere to send a definitive statement that he is very much back, even if his knee is still causing problems.
“I was just trying to get back to even par, to be honest, and I just happened to make a couple more putts,” said Woods. “I shot 30 on my back nine in a US Open; that’s not too bad.”
Ogilvy, meanwhile, was poised to pounce after a 73: “It was not as good as yesterday (but) it was okay,” said the 2006 champion.
“I had a pretty decent score, because I played pretty scrappy. I was two-over after four (holes), so two-over for the day is pretty good.
“It should have been easier today (playing in the morning) but it didn’t seem easy to me, maybe because I wasn’t playing quite as well.”
Allenby, meanwhile, made a rare appearance on a major leaderboard, thanks to a one-over 72.
“I’m just happy with the way I’m playing,” said the Victorian, who has never finished better than seventh in 48 major starts.
“I just want to keep it going through the weekend. My main goal is just to give myself a chance come Sunday.
“I’ve been working quite hard on my swing and it’s nice to get some results. Sometimes you work so hard and you don’t get the results.”
Allenby, who on Thursday said the greens were the worst he had ever putted on, said they were considerably better on Friday morning.
Seven of the nine Australians made the cut, with Rod Pampling five shots behind, Aaron Baddeley eight back and Jarrod Lyle 10 adrift.