Watson Shoots 65, Ties Wiebe for Lead; Nicklaus One Back

Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, once golf’s No. 1 road show, Friday created the chance for another classic duel.

Watson and Nicklaus will have a lot of competition during the final two rounds in the U.S. Open, but on a damp, dreary day at the Olympic Club, they moved into position to challenge for the second major championship of the year.

Having gone three years without a victory, Watson suddenly displayed his lost skills Friday with a five-under-par 65 that vaulted him into a share of the second-round lead with Mark Wiebe.

Nicklaus was one shot behind, hoping to add yet another page to the most legendary chronicle in golf.

“My juices start flowing when I get to the U.S. Open,” said Watson, whose putting woes have created speculation his career was in a permanent decline. “Winning this tournament would mean I was back.”

Nicklaus and Watson, who have battled in major championships around the world, thrilled the huge Olympic Club galleries on a gloomy, damp day by leading a charge to the top of the crowded leader board.

Watson, without a victory since the 1984 Western Open, rolled in a 50-foot putt at the par-3 third hole and ended the day at 137 for 36 holes.

Wiebe, one of the new wave of golfers trying to emerge from the crowd, tied Watson by firing a 67 Friday.

“I didn’t even think about what I was shooting,” said Wiebe, a two-time winner in his four years on the tour. “And then I said, ‘All right.”’

Nicklaus, meanwhile, was only one shot out of the lead in quest of a record fifth Open title and his 21st major championship.

“The U.S. Open always motivates me,” said Nicklaus, who shot a 68 Friday to reach the tournament’s midway point at 2-under 138. “When I got here this week, I was as down as I’ve been in a long time about my game. I don’t like to display my game when I’m playing poorly.

“I played with (Tom) in a practice round Wednesday. I thought I played terrible and I thought he played worse. I thought we might be playing somewhere Saturday, but I didn’t think it would be here.”

Joining Nicklaus at 138 were John Cook, Bernhard Langer, Tommy Nakajima and Jim Thorpe -- all veteran campaigners who have faced the pressure of major championships.

At 1-under 139 were Scott Simpson, Bob Eastwood, Masters champion Larry Mize and first-day leader Ben Crenshaw, who slumped from his opening-round 67 to a 72. Mize is trying to become the first player since Watson won the U.S. Open and British Open in 1982 to win two straight major titles.

The group at even-par included Craig Stadler and golf’s reigning free spirit -- Mac O’Grady. O’Grady stood at 4-under through eight, but lost four shots over the next three holes.

“I just have to chalk up this round to experience,” O’Grady said. “But this weekend should be exciting. I expect there will be a five- or six-way playoff and it will be one of the greatest U.S. Opens in history.”

Greg Norman lurked nearby at 1-over after a 69 Friday, tied at that figure with defending champion Raymond Floyd, who is trying to become the first player in 36 years to win back-to-back Opens.

The soft conditions brought on by gloomy skies and an occasional drizzle made the Olympic Club layout play much easier than expected.

Despite the ideal conditions, however, Seve Ballesteros shot a 75 for a two-day total of 3-over 143. Hal Sutton and former British Open winner Sandy Lyle were back in the pack at 4-over 144. Tom Kite was at 145.

Among those missing the 36-hole cut were former Open champions Fuzzy Zoeller (152), Hale Irwin (150) and Andy North (148). Payne Stewart (148), a popular pre-tournament pick to win the title, also missed the cut.

Nicklaus and Watson have staged memorable confrontations through the years and, in the most memorable battles, Watson has won. Watson beat Nicklaus in a two-way encounter at the 1977 British Open in Turnberry during a tournament regarded by some golf historians as the best in history.

Four years later, Watson outdueled Nicklaus and Johnny Miller in the Masters and, in 1982, Watson sank what seemed to be an impossible chip shot from the rough alongside the 17th green at Pebble Beach to again disappoint Nicklaus.

“Sure,” Nicklaus said, “it would be fun to play with Tom. But there are some other people involved.”

One of those is Wiebe, who sank a 140-yard wedge shot at the 12th hole for an eagle en route to his 67.

Watson’s round was unexpected since he had shown no signs of putting together a brilliant stretch of golf.

“I felt I knew what I was doing a little better out there today,” Watson said. “I feel like I have played good golf now and then. But I haven’t put four good rounds together.

“I really didn’t feel there was any doubt that I would get it back. It was just a question of when.”