Encouragement from Amateur

Bryce Molder, the only amateur to make the cut, shot a 2-under-par 68 Saturday. His round of 68 was the lowest round by an amateur since Sam Randolph in 1986 at Shinnecock Hills. He is also the first amateur since Matt Kuchar in 1998 at Olympic Club to post an under-par round.

I hit the ball really, really well on the range. It felt very, very good and I could tell early on. I was hitting the ball crisp; there was not much turn to the ball. And all the distances were very good.

The first tee I was a little nervous, but just tried to get it in the fairway -- didn’t hit a great shot, but it ended up in the fairway. I hit about as good a shot as I could hit to get it close for birdie.

I turned at 32 and I am thinking ‘Let’s get three more and get back to even par.’ I was hitting the ball good and feeling good, so I knew I could. I knew I was capable and I knew I was right there.

I made a great par on 10. On 11, I had 12 feet for birdie [but made par]. Great par on 12, 13 I hit the green in two and three-putted. I lipped out on the next hole, so it was right there. Had a good chance on 17; I just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities like I did on the front.

With a golf course that is playing really tough, but fair, and the greens are good like they are, you can make up a lot of shots. Because if you are hitting it really good and someone else is hitting it just OK, you can make up a lot of shots.

I remember thinking on 17 that the tee shot was worth a full shot. If you hit the fairway, it’s a birdie hole. If you don’t, then it’s really tough to hit that green in two and you are chasing par.

I think that is where the U.S. Open is great, because it levels the playing field. I like my chances tomorrow; it’s going to play faster and harder, which is good. I still think I can win -- I played good enough on the front nine that if I put a front and back together like that on Sunday, I could be right there.

In the U.S. Open, if you post a number early then you see what happens. The main thing is not to try and get six birdies on the first hole.

I am going to rest tonight especially with yesterday being so long.