Anirban Lahiri, Jeev Milkha Singh Likely to Miss Cut at US Open

Indian duo of Anirban Lahiri and Jeev Milkha had a long and arduous day at the US Open as they are unlikely to make the cut at the prestigious event after a very poor first couple of rounds.

Lahiri shot 73 and 78 in his two rounds, while Jeev had cards of 76 and 79.

At 11-over and 15-over, there is almost no chance of either making the cut, which is likely to fall at around six or seven-over.

Lahiri, played and missed the cut last year at 2015 US Open, and it is still the only Major, where he is yet to make the cut.

This was Jeev's fifth appearance at an US Open and he had made the cut in three of his previous four appearances with tied 36th in 2007 being his best on this very course.

Lahiri seemed to have given himself a chance of making the final two rounds with an opening 73. He had double bogey on second, bogeys on sixth, 12th and 15th, but birdies on 11th and 18th kept him afloat.

In the second round, with the course and tiredness taking its toll, Lahiri started on the tenth and immediately bogeyed 10th and double bogeyed 12th.

Further bogeys on 17th and 18th saw him turn in five-over and by then he was eight-over for the tournament. On the second nine, he double bogeyed first, bogeyed second and birdied third and parred the rest. That meant a 78 and he was 11-over.

Jeev had three birdies, seven bogeys and one double in first round and then he had nine bogeys, a double and two birdies in his second round 79 and that saw him finish at 15-over.

It was a tough battle, as usual at an US Open, and the Indians lost it this time. Meanwhile, the trio of Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, all of whom qualify to fall in the category of "The best golfer to have never won a Major" moved into contention.

In terms of pure statistics, they have a total of nine runner-up finishes, and have been inside the top-5 on 26 different occasions at Major Championships. Johnson alone has a Top-10 in four of his last five Majors and with rounds of bogey free 67, when he hit 16 greens in regulation, and 69 have seen him to get into a tie for the top.

He shares the pole position with Andrew Landry, who shot 66 in first round, but will begin his second round only on Saturday morning. Garcia (68-70) is tied 4th with Scott Piercy (68-70) and Shane Lowry (68) are also two-under and tied 4th. Westwood (67) is third with his second round only on Saturday.

While Johnson is 31, Garcia is 36 and Westwood 43. Play in second round was been suspended due to darkness late on Friday.