Scott reigns in second round, takes one-shot lead; Woods struggles

Adam Scott was frustrated by hitting good shots and signing for mediocre scores. After a spirited chat with his caddie, both were determined to squeeze everything they could out of the second round at the Memorial.

Scott flirted with perfection Friday at Muirfield Village, missing four putts inside 12 feet and still shooting a 10-under 62.

It gave him a one-shot lead over Rod Pampling, and he hopes it will be enough to shake off the golf gremlins that have been holding him back since his victory in Houston two months ago.

“We just told each other what we thought about what’s going on out there, a bit of a heart-to-heart, because we knew I was close to playing really well,” Scott said of his talk with Tony Navarro. “Our idea was to come out and be focused, and neither of us make a mistake.”

He made one, hitting a heavy 7-iron that tumbled off the front of the green and into the bunker on the par-3 16th, and his 12-foot par putt rippled over the edge. He followed that with a 20-footer on the 17th for his 11th birdie of the round.

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Champions head for US Open Qualifier

Two years ago, Michael Campbell attended the US Open Championship Sectional Qualifier at Walton Heath more in hope than expectation. A birdie putt at the 36th and final green secured a place among the elite competing at Pinehurst No.2 ten days later. Two weeks on, he was a Major Champion.

On Monday, another field of hopefuls will once again gather at Walton Heath for the US Open Sectional Qualifier hoping to follow Campbell’s example by securing a place in the season’s second Major Championship, taking place at Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania from June 14-17.

Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, two members of Europe’s victorious 2006 Ryder Cup Team, and seven champions from The 2007 European Tour International Schedule are included in the field for the 36 hole stroke play qualifying event. One round will be played over each of the Old and New Courses at Walton Heath.

In total, 35 past and present European Tour champions are expected to tee up on Monday morning hoping to book their place in the US Open Championship.

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