Miguel Ángel Jiménez (-1) is in the battle for victory at the US Senior Open after the second round. This is already saying a lot when he comes from winning another Major just last Sunday. The Malagueño delivered a card of 70 strokes at The Broadmoor, the Colorado course hosting the senior major of the USGA, and is in the top 10 of the tournament. Only nine players remain under par after 36 holes. The US Open shows no mercy, not even to the veterans.
Jiménez is well placed, but it is also true that he is running out of room for error. There are already five strokes of margin compared to the three leaders. Three leaders of substance. They are, especially Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink, and Mark Hensby. The trio lead with -6. It is the big problem for all those coming from behind. It is a US Open and many things can still happen in the two remaining rounds, but Harrington and Cink are not known for making many concessions when they smell blood. They are winners.
The leaders have a three-stroke margin over the fourth place. It is a considerable advantage and, especially, there are many with that advantage. It would be rare for all of them to fall in the next two days. It must be taken into account that it will be necessary to play very well from behind to come back. In fourth place is Thomas Bjorn (-3), another tough competitor, and with one stroke better than Jiménez are Y.E. Yang and Billy Andrade.
Given the situation, Jiménez will have to bring out the best of his repertoire in the two remaining days to recover positions. He is playing well, hitting impressive shots, giving himself birdie opportunities, but he is also making many mistakes. He is showing some inconsistency from tee to green, as demonstrated by his round this Friday, with five birdies and as many bogeys. He knows how to damage The Broadmoor, but he needs to minimise errors or find a way to be more effective in recoveries, a chapter that is never easy in a US Open.
In any case, the news of the day, without a doubt, is the missed cut by Bernhard Langer (+8). It is something rarely seen, almost unique. Since 2007, he has played 79 senior Majors, including this week’s, and it is the second time he has missed the cut. Two out of 79. Even a powerhouse like Langer seems to be running out of fuel. The other cut he missed was curiously in another US Open, in the year 2022. His record in 79 Majors is twelve victories and 51 top 10s. An incredible feat.
