Toms can’t sustain fast starts

OAKMONT, Pa. – If David Toms could only finish what he started, he would be leading the U.S. Open.

Toms was 3 under par through 12 holes Thursday when he bogeyed five of the last six holes to finish at 2 over, four strokes behind first-round leader Nick Dougherty.

He was 2 under for the day Friday and tied for the tournament lead at even par through 13 holes when he double bogeyed No. 14. He made two more bogeys, on No. 16 and No. 18, and finished 2 over for the day, 4 over for the tournament.

“I’m happy with where I am,” Toms said. “The disappointing thing is I put myself (in position) each day, and I couldn’t maintain it.”

That’s putting it kindly. Over the first two days, Toms is 9 over for his last 11 holes, which is why he’s tied for eighth, trailing second-round leader Angel Cabrera by four strokes.

Divided loyalties

Swing coach Butch Harmon had to serve two masters at the U.S. Open.

Harmon has been working the past several years with Adam Scott, the No. 4 player in the world rankings. He began working about two months ago with three-time major champion Phil Mickelson.

Just his luck, Mickelson and Scott played together the first two rounds.

Harmon didn’t arrive until Scott was about 10 minutes into his warm-up session, and then he spent five minutes chatting with Mickelson’s caddie.

Harmon spent the next 10 minutes working with Scott, then switched over to Mickelson.

Scott took triple bogey on the first hole on his way to an 82. Mickelson shot 40 on the back nine for a 77.

Quiet, please

Tom Pernice Jr. played the first two rounds with Charl Schwartzel, a 22-year-old South African in his second U.S. Open who is No. 46 in the world rankings.

Asked for his impressions, Pernice said he sounded familiar – in other words, not much chatter.

“I’d say he’s your typical South African,” Pernice said. “They never talk, just like Retief (Goosen) or Ernie (Els) – not the most exciting personalities, but loads of talent, no question.”

No comparison

Stephen Ames’ 69 at Oakmont satisfied him more than his 66 at Shinnecock that led to his ninth-place finish in 2004. Paul Casey’s 66 was the only other below-par round on the day, when the average score was nearly 77.

“This is a different monster altogether compared to Shinnecock,” Ames said.

Ames was 1 under on the difficult three-hole stretch from No. 7 to No. 9 that includes the first par 3 in U.S. Open history that is nearly 300 yards, No. 8.

Ames worried that all the high scores would encourage the USGA to keep Oakmont’s fast greens dry and almost impossible to master this weekend.

“If it gets dry like Shinnecock was, those last two days will be ridiculous, because the greens are twice as severe as those were,” said Ames.

Early departure

The youngest player in the field didn’t make the cut at the U.S. Open. He didn’t even make it to the end of his second round. Richard Lee withdrew after 13 holes with a wrist injury. The 16-year-old was 11 over for the day, 20 over for the tournament when he stopped.

“I am disappointed,” he said. “But I’m still happy that I came here this week to this wonderful golf course, Oakmont. A lot of history to this course.”