Tiger Woods has a long way back at U.S. Open

Reporting from Pebble Beach — Tiger Woods stayed on message after plodding through a second-round 72.

His two themes? “It’s a long haul.”

And: “I’m right there.”

Tough to argue either point. At four over par, seven shots back, Woods can’t be eliminated from contention.

That said, Woods has never climbed this far to win a U.S. Open after two rounds. He was tied for second in 2008, had a three-shot lead in 2002 and a six-shot advantage halfway into in his dominant 2000 performance at Pebble Beach.

“I just need to make a few more birdies,” he said.

After failing to beat par Thursday, he recorded three Friday, including a chip-in on No. 11.

Most of Woods’ competitors have stayed at least two club lengths away from commenting on his personal life. Tom Watson is not among them.

Asked Friday where Woods’ career is headed, Watson quoted legendary golf writer Dan Jenkins: “He said the only things that can stop you are an injury or a marriage issue. Dan wrote that. [Woods] talks about complete silence [around him]. It’s hard to have complete silence when things are going on in your mind.”

Pride of the Illini

Scott Langley used an orange Sharpie to sign a golf ball after his sterling two-under 69 on Friday.

“I borrowed it from Coach,” he said.

That would be University of Illinois Coach Mike Small, who advised Langley before the second round to simply “have fun.”

Langley did just that, hitting 15 (of 18) greens to finish in a tie for 13th at two over par, three shots better than the next lowest amateur.

Langley, who almost holed out a six-iron on No. 10, plans to return to Champaign, Ill., for his senior year before turning pro.

“The way I’ve played the last two rounds definitely makes me feel like I can play out here,” he said.

Chip-ins

Watson, playing in likely his final U.S. Open, made the cut on the number (seven over) by shooting 78-71 … Bennett Blakeman, the 23-year-old Burr Ridge, Ill., resident who reached the Open despite getting cut from the Lyons Township team as a freshman, carded rounds of 81-85 to finish 24 over par. But he did birdie No. 18 on Friday … Also struggling Friday was Y.E. Yang. He shot a one-under 34 on the front — and a 13-over 49 on the back to miss the cut by seven.

tgreenstein@tribune.com