K.J. Choi, arguably the best golfer Asia has produced fired an even-par 70 on Friday to stay in the hunt for his first Major after two rounds of the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club. Tiger Woods, David Toms and Jim Furyk top the leader board with one-under-par two-round totals of 139. Choi is tied for ninth, four shots behind. With the cut set at eight over, and just nine shots separating the leaders from the tail-enders, the tournament is still wide open on a brutal course that is taking no prisoners.

"Very difficult, but very happy," Choi said after his round on Friday.

Even as the tough terrain of the hungry lake side course at the Olympic Club swallowed its prey without mercy, Tiger Woods continued his steady march towards possibly his 15^th major title at the US Open Championship in San Francisco with an even par 70. At the end of the second day, there were only three golfers better than par and they were the ones sharing the 36 hole lead with a one under par score of 139. Rubbing shoulders with a resurgent Woods are Jim Furyk and David Toms who rode their way to the top of the sheet with rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.

Woods played the precision game to perfection for most of the day, except for a stretch in the middle that threatened to derail him. He went three straight holes making bogeys at the 5^th through 7^th before restoring balance with birdies at the 10^th and 13^th. With a share of the lead alongside Furyk by the 13^th hole, Woods had an opportunity to build some cushion for Saturday.

Players with OneAsia connections met with mixed fortune in the opening round of the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club on Thursday, but Australian Alistair Presnell kept the flag flying high with an even par 70 that left him four shots off the lead in joint seventh place. Unheralded American Michael Thompson topped the leader board with a stunning 66 that included seven birdies, three bogies and just 22 putts. Tiger Woods was three shots behind in second place with four others, including 2010 champion Graeme McDowell.

Presnell, who finished 78th on the OneAsia Order of Merit last year, said he tried to play "boring golf", as being too aggressive would end in disaster on the challenging course.

The Olympic Club in San Fransisco is a stark contradiction to the friendly reputation of the city in which it is located. If the action on the first day is any indicator, the treacherous course threatens to severely test the field over the course of this week. On a mildly sunny day at the 112th US Open Championships at the lake side course, we have a surprise leader in the form of Michael Thompson who drew on his experiences at the course to pull out an improbable 66 to own a handy 3 shot lead. Tiger Woods is lurking behind in second and looking in ominous form, on a day when only 14 golfers managed to keep their heads above water.

Preparation is a virtue, and Thompson, the low amateur at the US Open (T28) in 2008 arrived at the course a week ahead of the tournament to feel his way around the course. The 27 year old was also here in 2007, when he lost narrowly to Colt Knost in the US Amateur Championship. Playing alongside Knost again and feeding off the familiarity and repetition the Alabama resident paced himself brilliantly as he crafted a memorable round of four under par, needing just 22 putts to tame the ferociously hungry greens. "That was really big to be able to spend three full days really with nobody out here," Thompson said. "I had the chipping green, putting green, all to myself. I really got some good practice." He added, "Today was fun with Colt, we talked about the U.S. Amateur and the changes with the golf course from then till now. And just joking and just enjoying, I guess, each other's company."