Long-hitting Angel Cabrera of Argentina knocked in a short birdie putt on his last hole to claim a one-shot lead after the second round of the US Open on the fast-running Oakmont course.
Cabrera, who began his round from the 10th tee, capped off a challenging day on the treacherous layout with his two-foot birdie at the ninth to register a one-over-par 71 and reach the halfway mark at even-par 140.
One stroke back was another big hitter, American Bubba Watson. The 28-year-old Watson, who leads the U.S. Tour in driving, also posted a 71 for his 141 total.
'It's great to finish this way, but I've got to keep concentrating,' Cabrera, 37, told reporters through an interpreter. 'The tournament really starts tomorrow.'
Watson, who missed the cut in his only previous US Open in 2004, said would try to stay relaxed and play his game.
‘If your game is on, anyone has a chance to win here,’ said the left-hander from Florida. ‘Everybody is going to make mistakes.’ Watson had five bogeys and four birdies.
Two shots off the pace were Briton Justin Rose, Sweden's Niclas Fasth, Australian Aaron Baddeley and Stephen Ames of Canada, whose 69 was one of two sub-par scores yesterday.
Briton Paul Casey fired a four-under-par 66 to vault into contention at three-over 143, moving up 97 places on the jammed leaderboard after his opening 77.
Ulsterman Graeme Mc Dowell posted a 72 to leave himself in a group of six players on five-over-par. Tiger Woods, who carded a round of 74, is in that group with McDowell.
Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, saw another Major pass him by. The Dubliner shot a round of 80 to finish at 13-over-par, three shots above the score he needed to stay involved for the weekend.
63 players made the cut, which was set at 10-over-par 150.
The birdie putt by Cabrera eliminated 19 players who would have qualified, including world number two Phil Mickelson, who had been poised to qualify by being within 10 of the lead after his 77 Friday left him with an 11-over-par 151 total.
The result ended Mickelson's streak of making cuts at the major championships at 30 in what had been the longest current streak among the players.
