COLUMBUS, Ohio — George McNeil’s aim was to qualify for his first U.S. Senior Open.
Not solely was McNeil protected to play at Scioto Nation Membership over the weekend, he shot a 4-under 66 on Friday to open a two-shot lead.
“I did not have an excellent feeling on the U.S. Open. I do not know if it is due to age or not. This Senior Open is clearly going effectively up to now,” McNeil mentioned. “It is a lengthy street to the weekend, however attending to the weekend was my first aim and step one. And we’ll go from there. We’ll see what occurs.”
McNeil shot a 6-under 134 on the course the place Jack Nicklaus grew up taking part in.
Defending champion Padraig Harrington completed second with a 67.
“I believe I am being a little bit extra cautious on my strategy photographs,” Harrington mentioned. “Clearly I am in place and the identical factor might be what I need, however I really feel like I could be a little bit extra free.”
Charlie Wie and Stewart Cink, who took the joint lead within the first spherical, at the moment are three strokes aside after a spherical of 70. Miguel Angel was additionally three photographs behind after a 68.
McNeil capped off his worst spherical of the week with a protracted birdie putt.
“It was surprising. I went a little bit to the appropriate of the opening, however I broke again on the finish. I used to be completely happy to see it go in,” he mentioned. “Yesterday I went lengthy on No. 9. One other bonus, I will take it, as a result of I do know it will occur, like a nasty bounce or no matter. So I will take what I can get.”
McNeil, 50, is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour and was the PGA Tour Champion rookie. He has two top-five finishes this 12 months, together with a tie for second on the James Hardy Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Invitational.
McNeil is attempting to change into the thirteenth participant to win his first U.S. Senior Open. The final particular person to do it was Richard Model in 2024.
After one other gradual begin, Cink had a robust end. He completed the spherical at 3-over after 14 holes, however birdied three of the ultimate 4 holes.
“I used to be in a position to salvage a spherical right this moment,” mentioned Sink, who’s aiming for his third senior main win this 12 months. “It is onerous to pay attention and also you simply lose focus a little bit bit. It is a powerful monitor. For those who’re off by a little bit bit, you are punished. I dug a little bit gap, however I am actually glad I used to be in a position to get it again within the final 4.”
Wie made a double bogey on the second gap and was 3 over till the fifth gap, however birdied 4 of the following 10 holes. He then made bogey on the par-4 sixteenth gap.
“The circumstances are getting tougher, so if the greens are agency, and there are plenty of undulations on the greens, you need to be sure you miss on the appropriate aspect so you’ll be able to simply two-putt whereas taking the ups and downs,” Wie mentioned.
Amongst those that missed the reduce with 4 overs had been former Senior Open champions David Toms (5 overs) and Olin Brown (14 overs), Justin Leonard (5 overs) and Davis Love III (9 overs).
