Jeev makes cut at US Open

With a total of 10-over 150, he was tied 51st right on the cut line, as 63 players made the cut in an edition that has been dubbed as the toughest ever US Open in history.

Jeev was 10 shots off the lead held by Argentine Angel Cabrera, who added a one-over 71 to his one-under 69 on first day. Cabrera was followed by big-hitting Bubba Watson 71 at one-over 141, as no players remain under-par after two rounds.

Jeev had a much improved day on Friday, when he found eight of the 14 fairways, up from five in 14 on first day. But he dropped in terms of finding greens in regulation from 11 out of 18 to nine out of 18. He needed 32 putts as against 34 on first day.

World number one Tiger Woods dropped two bogeys in the last four holes on 15th and 18th and dropped to five-over for 36 holes and was tied 13th. Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy 71-75 tied 19th at 146.

8220;This is a tough course and I love playing at such courses. This is what Majors are all about,8221; said Jeev, who has earlier made the cut at US Open in 2002 at Bethpage and in 2006 at Winged Foot.

8220;I enjoyed myself at Bethpage and again last year and now that the first stage cut made is done, I hope to enjoy myself and improve my position.8221;

Among those tied with Jeev are the Masters champion, Zach Johnson 74 and former US Open champion, Michael Campbell 77.

The biggest name missing the cut was two-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson 74-77 and joining him on the sidelines were twice US Open champion, Retief Goosen 76-77, Spaniard Sergio Garcia 79-75, Dubai Classic winner Henrik Stenson 79-76, European No. 1 Padraig Harrington 73-80, Asia8217;s highest world ranked player Korea8217;s K J Choi.

Jeev started on the first and got his first birdie on the fourth. But that joy was short-lived as he found himself at the wrong end of the barrel with back-to-back double bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes.

When he added further bogeys on the ninth, 11th and then again on 16th, he was six over for the day and 11-over for the tournament.

The cut at that stage looked at 10-over or 11-over as players were dropping shot after shot. A birdie on the 17th brought him to 10-over and with a fine par he ended the second round at the same score and as the day unfolded he found work for the weekend.

Excruciating pin positions and lightning fast greens took a toll on overnight leader Nick Dougherty whose double bogey on 15th proved costly as he finished with a 77 and his five-over 145 meant he plays with Woods in third round.

Cabrera birdied the final hole to take the halfway lead as Europeans held sway at the US Open. Bubba Watson in second is the only American in top six places.