Langer leads at Senior Open

Associated Press

SAMMAMISH, Wash.

Bernhard Langer has himself in position for a second consecutive major championship.

Langer overcame a shaky front nine with an eagle and birdie on the inward half Friday to take the lead at 3 under in the second round of the U.S. Senior Open.

Langer won the Senior British Open on Sunday at Carnoustie.

After a fog delay of more than two hours brought play to a halt just before 8 a.m., Langer shot a 2-under 68, making key putts on the back nine when his round easily could have slipped away.

No one in the afternoon rounds was able to match Langer. John Cook was two back after a 68, along with J.R. Roth. Tom Watson and Fred Couples shot 70s to stay three back. Loren Roberts and Michael Allen also were even through two rounds.

The little-known Roth shot a 4-under 66 on Friday. He hit 15 greens in regulation and took advantage with his strong putting.

He had six birdies despite the firm conditions, including a pair of 35-foot putts that fell on the ninth and 18th holes. His putt on 18 broke hard from right to left and just sneaked in the side of the hole to cap his round and get him back into red figures headed to the weekend.

“It was great,” Roth said. “I played well all day. The round just kind of developed. I knew I had something special going when I made birdie on number 9.”

“Then I birdied 11 and was thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’ve got something really good going.”’

He followed it up with a 10-footer to save par on 12.

This the second USGA tournament Roth has played in. The other was the 1975 U.S. Junior Amateur.