Allenby, Appleby make cut at US Open

(AAP) - Pill popping Robert Allenby played through the pain barrier to head a miserable Australian contingent after the second round at the US Open on Friday.

Allenby and Stuart Appleby are the only Australians to make the halfway cut, as nine
of their compatriots have bowed out early, including big guns Geoff Ogilvy and Adam
Scott, who both have come up one shot short.
Allenby is a distant nine strokes behind leader Graeme McDowell, while Appleby
trails by 10, but at least they get to play on the weekend.
Northern Irishman McDowell shot 68 to set the pace at three-under 139, two strokes
ahead of American Phil Mickelson, South African Ernie Els, Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and
American Dustin Johnson. Tiger Woods is seven strokes behind and not quite out of
contention, but will need to do something special.
Allenby conceded victory was out of reach, given his condition:
"I scratched it around but the arm's killing me," he said, referring to the left
wrist and lower arm that he strained when his boat ran aground in Florida last
Sunday.
"It (the pain) was worse than yesterday and with five holes to go I nearly pulled
the pin, because of the pain."
Instead, he consumed a large dose of ibuprofen to take the edge off, and got through
the final few holes.
"I just hope I can make it through the weekend," Allenby continued.
"I hit it in the rough a couple of times today and that's why it got really sore, to
the point I can't even hold the club.
"It wasn't pretty but I just did what I had to do."
Appleby, meanwhile, nearly played his way out of the tournament over the final two
holes.
He bogeyed the tough par-three 17th and therefore needed to par the par-five 18th to
make the cut.
He seemed headed for a sickening early exit when he left himself with a five-metre
putt to save par, but luck was on his side as the ball tracked into the hole.
Leader McDowell arrived at the Open brimming with confidence after a cracking
victory two weeks ago at the Wales Open.
It's a different continent this week, but the same form.
"I made birdie, kind of a scrappy start, but made a great putt on 14 (his fifth
hole) for birdie from long range and that really got my day going," he said.
"I played lovely after that, gave myself a ton of chances.
"Generally I played smart, hit fairways and greens, and really tried to keep it
below the hole as much as possible, but it's tough to do on this golf course.
"I'd be lying if I hadn't thought about picking up the trophy on Sunday afternoon.
"I think that's only natural.
"But I'm trying to be very realistic about it, as well.
"I'm really trying to put no expectations on myself this weekend because, A, I know
there's a lot of great players out here, and B, this golf course is extremely
difficult."
Sadly, McDowell could not name three of the four winners of previous Opens at Pebble
Beach. He knew that Tiger Woods won in 2000, but admitted he did not know the
previous three champions Jack Nicklaus (1972), Tom Watson (1982) and Tom Kite
(1992).
Mickelson's 66 was the day's best round and it lifted the Masters champion into
contention for a second successive major title.
"I just got hot with the putter. I was able to make some birdies on the birdie holes
early on and then get through the tough holes with some pars," he said.
Woods, meanwhile, spoke positively:
"I'm right there," said the world No.1, whose definition of right there is pretty
loose, considering he's seven behind.
"This is a long haul. I just need to make a few more birdies, a few more putts on
the weekend."