Friday morning U.S. Open update: Furyk, Singh, Mickelson fall, Tiger ready to pounce

OAKMONT, Pa. - This leaderboard at the U.S. Open as events unfold Friday morning looks like it’s Tiger’s for the taking.

Amongst other crazy ideas, I’m looking for Woods to be leading the tournament by day’s end with a 70 or 71 in the afternoon. Red numbers will be long gone.

Scores are high so far. Singh and Furyk are 4-over today.

Mickelson carried over his strong finish into two birdies in the first six holes. Then the struggles began. Now he’s all over the place: 8-over and still on the course. He’s right on the cut line now, but P.M. scores should fall back with him.

Ian Poulter has inexplicably jinxed himself by not wearing plaid pants (pink instead today, come on dude). He’s fallen to 6-over for the tourney.

The pretenders at the top look good for Tiger Woods to overtake (Dougherty, Olazabal, Cabrera - but look for Bubba Watson to hang in there).

Oakmont is playing harder today, so the cream should rise to the top. But birdies are to be made. Look at Paul Casey’s 3-under round so far. Aaron Baddeley got out of the gate and got to even before settling back at 2-over.

The log jam from one to three over will be filtered out nicely by day’s end, and Tiger will be looking down at everyone.