PHIL MICKELSON HUNG tough to hold onto his lead at the half-way point of the US Open.
In the fading light, Mickelson drained a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a round of two-over 72 and a share of the clubhouse lead.
The only other player under par at the close of play was Billy Horschel who shot the day’s low round of 67 to join Mickelson on one-under par.
After a tough day of scoring at Merion Golf Club, the top of the leaderboard was tightly packed with five players sitting just one shot adrift. English duo Luke Donald and Justin Rose are in the clubhouse on level par as is American veteran Steve Stricker.
Also on level par overnight are Ian Poulter and amateur Cheng-Tsung Pan who will both be returning to finish their round on Saturday morning after play was stopped due to a lack of light.
World numbers one and two Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are very much in contention on three-over par while Padraig Harrington is a shot further back through 15 holes after a late double-bogey took the sting out of his challenge.
After a remarkable start on Thursday, Waterford amateur Kevin Phelan was on six-over through nine holes of his second round and now faces a battle to make the weekend’s cut, which is projected to be at eight-over.
Graeme McDowell (+13) and Darren Clarke (+15) will both miss the cut.
