US Open: Westwood and Clarke left in the dark

Lee Westwood crashed out and Darren Clarke took an eight in semi-darkness as the US Open completed one of its longest days in Tulsa.

But centre stage again belonged to Tiger Woods as he only just won a battle to survive the halfway cut.

On the five-over-par mark of 145 after rounds of 74 and 71 he had to play 26 holes because of Thursday’s rain delay - Woods finished the day nine adrift of the three surprise joint leaders, South African Retief Goosen and Americans Mark Brooks and JL Lewis.

And while he was relieved to be still alive, the world number one’s hopes of an unprecedented fifth successive Major title were slim indeed.

Sergio Garcia was going nicely at two-under - he just got finished and shared fourth place with Stewart Cink but Westwood tumbled out on 11-over-par and Clarke’s calamity at the long 13th, where he put a four-iron and then a wedge into the lake, left him five-over with five to play in the morning.

Colin Montgomerie at one-over-par was the only British or Irish player in touch with the lead.

Given the absence of really star names at the top of the leaderboard, Woods had far from given up the fight.

Seeing that Brooks, the only Major winner among the top 12 at one point, had shot a 64 which was only one outside the record for any of the four Major championships, he said: ‘‘If I can play something like Brooksy I can get myself back into the tournament.

‘‘If I can get to level-par after another 18 or 27 holes you never know.’’

The golfing world has become used to Woods speaking without ‘‘ifs’’ and ‘‘buts’’, though.

The three pacesetters had to do even more work than Woods during the day, Goosen playing 28 holes and playing partners Lewis and Brooks 29.

European Tour member Goosen set the target at five-under with scores of 66 and 70, his bogey at the last allowing those on six-over (Nick Faldo among them) to breathe more easily knowing that anybody 10 shots off the halfway lead qualifies.

Lewis, a 40-year-old with just one US Tour victory to his name, had successive 68s, while Brooks mounted his charge in the afternoon as the sun started to dry out the Southern Hills course where almost 1½-inches of rain had fallen in the thunderstorm which suspended play.

He was six-under for the round after a mere 11 holes, but had to be content with parring the remaining seven.

After 11 holes of his second round at the course on which he had his highest-ever US Tour score five years ago (a 78), Woods stood six-over-par and joint 102nd of the 155 players.

Then came birdie putts of 25ft and 10ft on the next two greens, but when he bogeyed the 16th and went over the green at the 365-yard 17th the alarm bells were ringing again.

But fighter that he is, even when things are not going as well, he saved par there with a great chip and six-foot putt that sneaked into the side door, then parred the 466-yard last. It looked like being just good enough.

‘‘That was a long day,’’ said Woods, who along with 89 others teed off again at 7am to complete their first rounds before setting off again under an hour later.

‘‘I was up at 4.30am and when I got to the course the driving range was not even open, so I had to just think about it.

‘‘I was not thinking about the cut because I am not in control of that. I was just concentrating to trying as hard as I could.

‘‘But I just did not hit it as crisp as I would have liked. I feel I’m putting well, but most of them have been for pars so far.

‘‘I have had to save myself from divots, bunkers, rough, you name it. But if I can get back to level par after another 18 or 27 holes you never know.’’

Montgomerie played 26 holes and said after adding a 70 to his opening 71: ‘‘It’s just a shame I three-putted the 14th and 16th. You can win from one-over here, but I have to hole some more putts.

‘‘I was watching Tiger behind me and it was interesting to see where he was going. Expect fireworks tomorrow.’’

Three double-bogeys in a nightmare four-hole stretch in the morning sent Faldo tumbling after he resumed on level-par.

Faldo messed up the ninth, 10th and 12th, finished with a 76 and finished six-over - right on the cut mark - after missing a five-foot birdie chance on the chance.