Singh swings into lead at US Open

Defending champion Tiger Woods hits from the rough on the first hole at Olympia Fields Country Club in the second round of the US Open outside Chicago on Friday. Woods birdied the hole. PHOTO: REUTERS

A month after Vijay Singh made headlines with his mouth, he did it with his golf clubs.

Criticized for his comments that Annika Sorenstam doesn't belong on the PGA Tour, Singh took his place atop the leaderboard Friday at the US Open with a 7-under 63, matching the best score in major championship history.

He was heckled by a fan on the 14th hole, but nothing stopped the big Fijian.

"I wasn't too emotionally concerned with my score," Singh said. "I was just playing my game and enjoying it."

Jim Furyk had a bogey-free 66 and joined Singh in the record books at 7-under 133, the lowest 36-hole score ever in the US Open.

They had a one-stroke lead over Stephen Leaney (68) and Jonathan Byrd (66), with Tiger Woods closing in fast.

Woods had six birdies in a round of 66 and was only three strokes behind as he tries to become the second player in the last 50 years to win consecutive Opens.

It was the lowest second round of scoring in U.S. Open history, and the 71.9 average at Olympia Fields was the fifth-lowest in any round.

Vijay Singh of Fiji looks at his putt on the 17th green at Olympia Fields in the second round of the US Open. PHOTO: REUTERS

That didn't make it any easier on Singh, who was heckled by a fan on the 14th hole as he was making a bid for major championship history.

After an 8-iron into 4 feet, a fan called out, ``If it would have been Annika, it would have gone in the hole.''

As security escorted the fan from Olympia Fields, Singh appeared to raise his putter at him. Then, he stood over the putt and holed it for birdie.

Asked about the incident, Singh said, "I didn't notice anything."

Rocco Mediate, his playing partner and a former neighbor in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, made it sound as if it were impossible to ignore.

"His caddie said something to him, and he [the fan] said, `Why don't you come over here and say that?'" Mediate said. "They escorted [him] out. It was just stupid. Enough's enough. I don't think they'll say much if he's holding that trophy up on Sunday."

They cheered Singh long and loud as he played the final holes Friday afternoon, flawless execution from a two-time major champion.

"It felt like it was the last day of the Open," he said. "I was pumped up and playing well."

This is supposed to the best toughest test in golf, although that's open to debate.

The rough is thick, but there have been no reports of missing children. The greens are quick, but they will hold just about any shot.

The scores were unlike anything the US Open has seen in 10 years.

The cut was 3-over 143, the lowest in history. It was 1-over 145 in 1990 at Medinah, the last time a US Open was held outside Chicago.

More evidence?

Woody Austin, a guy famous for breaking a putter over his head, shot 64. Masters champion Mike Weir had a 67 that included a 7 on his scorecard.

There were 38 rounds in the 60s, making it 52 for the first two days. The record for most rounds in the 60s at a US Open was 76 at Baltusrol in 1993.

Singh made no apologies for the scoring, and had no comment on Sorenstam.

"I'd like to focus on the Open this week," he said.

That's what Singh does best. Distractions have followed him throughout his career, yet the 40-year-old has always found solace by digging out golf shots in the dirt.

A week before Sorenstam became the first woman in 58 years to play on the PGA Tour, Singh said, "I hope she misses the cut. Why? Because she doesn't belong out here."

Singh went on to win the Byron Nelson Classic, his second victory of the year, then withdrew from the Colonial, where Sorenstam shot rounds of 71-74 to miss the cut.

The controversy might fade if Singh keeps this up.