Tiger in the hunt

Mediate, aiming to become the oldest US Open champion at 45, covered the front nine in two over after mixing three bogeys with a lone birdie in bright morning sunshine.

Woods, US Open champion in 2000 and 2002, grabbed an early advantage when Mediate bogeyed the par-four first after hitting his approach into the front greenside bunker and missing a five-footer to save par.

However Mediate fought back at the par-three third, coming close to an ace with a superb six-iron that ended up just 18 inches from the hole. He tapped in for birdie while Woods bogeyed after getting a plugged lie in the front bunker off the tee and failing to get up and down for par.

Trailing by a shot, Woods got back to level when Mediate bogeyed the par-four fifth after driving into a fairway bunker and pulling his approach into the left rough after slipping in the sand on his downswing.

Edging ahead

WOODS then edged one ahead with his first birdie of the day at the par-four sixth where his precision approach ended up six feet from the flag. The 32-year-old doubled his lead with another birdie at the seventh where he struck his second shot to 10 feet before he stumbled with a bogey at the par-three eighth.

After finding the back left bunker off the tee, Woods8217;s sand shot bounced 10 yards beyond the front of the green from where he chipped up to five feet and sank the putt.

Although Mediate failed to reach the green off the tee, he got up and down to save par and trim Woods8217;s lead to one.

Both players struggled on the par-five ninth, Woods hitting his second shot into one of three bunkers guarding the left of the green and duffing his third into tangly rough just short of the putting surface.

After chipping to six feet, he rolled in the putt to save par. Mediate, on the green in three after pulling his second shot into the right rough, three-putted for bogey to drop two behind.