How difficult was the course? It was so hard that three-time major championship winner Vijay Singh reached the green at the par-3 ninth and finished with a triple-bogey 6. His first putt rolled off the huge bowl in the middle of the green and ran all the way off the front. His third shot ended up short and he three-putted from there, most likely missing the cut with his second 76.

"The course is playing a lot harder today than yesterday," Wi said. "The wind's a lot harder. I know the guys playing in the afternoon, it's going to be very challenging for them."

Angel Cabrera of Argentina, winner of the 2007 U.S. Open, playing in one of the first groups off the tee on Friday, got to 2 under at one point but then wilted down the stretch to shoot a 72 and was at 142. He had an eagle and two birdies through the first 12 holes to briefly pull into a tie with Karlsson and Singh.

Andres Romero, also from Argentina, made a charge to get to 1 under but had his round ruined with a quadruple-bogey 8 at the par-4 16th.

Steve Elkington, the 1995 PGA Championship winner, made an early splurge but then took two double bogeys in a 73 which left him at 4 over.