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Haas' turnaround builds confidence

Fort Worth native Hunter Haas did not make the cut at this week's U.S. Open. But he was one of only 20 golfers to break par in Friday's second round, when he posted a 70 _ a 10-stroke turnaround from an opening 80 _ and finished 36 holes at 8-over par. The figure was one stroke above the cut line at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif.

If not for Friday's 45-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole by second-round leader Stuart Appleby, Haas would have played on the weekend in his Open debut. But Appleby's putt moved the Aussie to 3-under par and set the cut at 7-over for all golfers within 10 strokes of the lead.

Haas, 31, waved goodbye after 36 holes and will return next week to the Nationwide Tour. But not before making an impression on his father, Jim, who got to watch his son play for the first time as a professional in one of golf's major championships.

"After watching Hunter come back the way he did (Friday), I think he can play with anybody out there," Jim Haas said Saturday. "It was a great experience on a really tough course. We though 8-over would hold up (to make the cut) until Appleby ruined everybody's day. But after he made it, Hunter's comment was, 'It's not a big deal because I've done it to other guys, too. That's just part of the game.'  And it is. I really hope Hunter can build on what he did (Friday). He played an absolutely fabulous second round."

_ Jimmy Burch

Strong Friday start for Sabbatini

Rory Sabbatini, a Fort Worth resident who won the 2007 Colonial, is climbing the leaderboard during today's early stages of the second round at the U.S. Open in La Jolla, Calif.

Sabbatini is 1-under par through four holes in his second round at Torrey Pines Golf Course, which has moved him into a tie for 19th, at 1-over par for the tournament. Among Open competitors with Tarrant County connections, Sabbatini is in the best shape to work his way into weekend contention, as things stand now.

Here is a breakdown of where local golfers stand at the Open as of noon CDT on Friday:

Sabbatini, T-19, 1-over for the tournament (through 4 holes in Round 2).

Ian Leggatt, T-27, 2-over for the tournament (through 3 holes in Round 2).

Brandt Jobe, T-27, 2-over for the tournament (through 3 holes in Round 2).

Todd Hamilton, T-43, 3-over for the tournament (starts Round 2 later today).

Ben Crane, T-61, 4-over for the tournament (starts Round 2 later today).

Chad Campbell, T-94, 6-over for the tournament (through 10 holes in Round 2).

Hunter Haas, T-127, 9-over for the tournament (starts Round 2 later today).

D.J. Brigman, T-142, 11-over for the tournament (through 11 holes in Round 2).

_ Jimmy Burch 

Tough start for Tarrant golfers

With the exception of Ian Leggatt, a former Texas Wesleyan golfer playing in one of today's late afternoon groups, it's been a tough opening round for players with Tarrant County connections at the U.S. Open.

Leggatt, who is 1-under through four holes, is the only one who is under par for a partial or complete round at Torrey Pines. Among the golfers who have finished their opening rounds at the par-71 course, Hunter Haas (80), Ben Crane (75) and Todd Hamilton (74) will need to show some improvement in Friday's second round to be assured of weekend tee times.

Among players on the course, the breakdown looks like this: Leggatt, 1-under (through 4 holes); Brandt Jobe, 1-over (through 5 holes); Rory Sabbatini, 2-over (through 6 holes); Chad Campbell, 5-over (through 11 holes) and D.J. Brigman, 6-over (through 12 holes).

_ Jimmy Burch

Round one to Mickelson

By the margin of a birdie on the 18th hole, Phil Mickelson edged Tiger Woods during today's much-anticipated, first-round mathcup at the U.S. Open.

Mickelson two-putted for a birdie at the par-5 18th hole, which both players reached on their second shot, to finish his opening round at even-par 71. Woods three-putted from 50 feet on the closing hole to post a par and finish his opening round at 1-over 72. For Woods, it was only his second three-putt in his last 126 holes at Torrey Pines, where he has won four consecutive titles at the Buick Invitational (2005-2008), the PGA Tour's annual stop at Torrey.

Adam Scott, the third member of the power trio that includes the world's top three golfers, closed with a birdie an posted 2-over 73.

The leader, at this stage of the opening round, is Justin Hicks. Playing in the second group of the morning, he posted a 3-under 68.

One of the biggest surprises thus far is amateur Rickie Fowler, winner of the 2008 Ben Hogan Award. The Oklahoma State golfer fired a 1-under 70 in his opening round and is two strokes off the lead.

_ Jimmy Burch

Romo meets the challenge

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has met the challenge at this week's U.S. Open venue. Romo not only broke 100 under tournament conditions at Torrey Pines Golf Course, he did so with ease.

Romo shot an 84 at the par-71 course as part of Golf Digest's U.S. Open challenge that will air Sunday on NBC from 1-2 p.m., immediately before the network's final-round coverage. The network put together four single-digit handicappers, three of them celebrities, to see if any member of the group could break 100 at the Open venue from the pro's tees under tournament conditons.

Romo and singer/actor Justin Timberlake broke 100, although Timberlake (98) finished 14 shots behind Romo. NBC  "Today" Show host Matt Lauer finished at 100 while amateur John Atkinson posted a 114.

The four golfers played Torrey Pines on Friday (June 6), with results released today. Atkinson, 38, is a non-smoker who battles lung cancer. He was chosen in nationwide ballotting by golf fans to accompany the three celebrities in their quest.

The genesis of the idea came from a comment made at last year's U.S. Open, when Tiger Woods surmised that a 10-handicapper could not break 100 at a U.S. Open venue under tournament conditions.

_ Jimmy Burch

Tarrant County tee times at the Open

USGA officials have announced first- and second-round tee times for next week's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Below is a look at starting time for golfers with Tarrant County connections (all times CDT):

THURSDAY, JUNE 12

9:11 a.m. _ Hunter Haas (No. 1 tee)

10:50 a.m. _ Ben Crane (No. 10 tee)

2:30 p.m. _ D.J. Brigman (No. 1 tee)

4:20 p.m. _ Brandt Jobe (No. 1 tee)

2:52 p.m. _ Chad Campbell (No. 10 tee)

4:09 p.m. _ Rory Sabbatini (No. 10 tee)

4:31 p.m. _ Ian Leggatt (No. 10 tee)

FRIDAY, JUNE 13

2:41 p.m. _ Hunter Haas (No. 10 tee)

4:20 p.m. _ Ben Crane (No. 1 tee)

9 a.m. _ D.J. Brigman (No. 10 tee)

10:50 a.m. _ Brandt Jobe (No. 10 tee)

9:22 a.m. _ Chad Campbell (No. 1 tee)

10:39 a.m. _ Rory Sabbatini (No. 1 tee)

11:01 a.m. _ Ian Leggatt (No. 1 tee)

In addition, Oklahoma State golfer Rickie Fowler -- winner of the 2008 Ben Hogan Award -- qualified for the Open and will compete as an amateur. His starting times: 9:44 a.m. on Thursday (No. 1 tee) and 3:14 p.m. on Friday (No. 10 tee).

_ Jimmy Burch

Tiger, Phil grouped together at U.S. Open

Tiger Woods, the world's top-ranked golfer, won't have to look far to gauge himself against other elite players when he returns from a two-month hiatus at next week's U.S. Open.

Woods has been grouped with No. 2 Phil Mickelson and No. 3 Adam Scott for his first two rounds at Torrey Pines Golf Course. USGA officials released first- and second-round pairings today, with the power trio scheduled to begin their first round at 10:06 a.m. CDT (June 12) and their second round at 3:36 p.m. CDT (June 13).

Woods, who underwent knee surgery on April 15, last joined Mickelson in the same Open group in the third round of the 1999 tournament, won by the late Payne Stewart. Power groups will be a theme next week in La Jolla, Calif., with the world's top 12 golfers lumped into four threesomes. Other star-studded groupings include: Ernie Els-Justin Rose-Geoff Ogilvy; Stewart Cink, Sergio Garcia-Vijay Singh and K.J. Choi-Jim Furyk-Steve Stricker.

Mike Davis, USGA senior director of rules and competitions, said the idea is to keep elite players in the "same wave" of weather conditions that surface during the first two rounds.

_ Jimmy Burch