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All the latest news and views from the US Open at Bethpage Black, including Ricky Barnes's thoughts on his new 36-hole scoring record.

Ricky Barnes (Position 1;score -8): "If you would have told me I would have been 8 under and only one shot lead, I would have said, "You're kidding me," but I'll take it!

"It's pretty cool. Obviously at the beginning of the week you didn't think that score was out there. Obviously with some tees moved up and the soft greens helped it out. And obviously with my ball striking was the most probably impressive part of the first 36 holes. I hit 31 of 36 greens. Pretty stress free."

Tiger Woods (T41; +3): "Unfortunately, my score doesn't reflect how I've been playing. And it is what it is. But you never know. I've got 36 more holes over the next probably three days!

"It's one of those things where if I keep plugging along just like any US Open, just keep plugging along, make a birdie here and there, and we'll see where it ends up.

"There's no doubt. I'm hitting it well enough. I just need to obviously make a few more putts. And get it rolling.

Lee Westwood (T7; -2): "I've always been pretty mentally strong. You end up on the good side of the draw a few times, these things tend to even themselves out and you get the bad side of the draw.

"I just went out with the idea of trying to be in front on my side of the draw, and, you know, I've managed to do that, so I'm delighted.

"I've always wanted to win a Major, but you can only do what you think is the right thing. I can only do what I think is the right thing for Lee Westwood to win one of those.

"I've been doing that and last year gave me a good chance, came up one shot out of the playoff, but gave me a lot of confidence. I played okay in that last round with Tiger, and I'm taking a lot of positives out of that."

Azuma Yano (T4; -3): "I have a big chance to win. I feel like that. Even though I'm Asian, I can do it.

"And the feeling is very good. And my luck is coming out. I believe in it. I think I have a big chance to win, be the first Asian winner, and I keep on playing with this feeling.

"It's the first time for me to play at the US Open. I didn't expect anything. I wanted to pass the cut. That was my first goal. As I recognise I'm doing very well, I'm going to keep on doing it."

Lucas Glover (2; -7): "I drove it great for the last 27 holes. And driving the fairway at an Open you're going to have some birdie chances. I drove it good and hit my irons the right distance a lot.

"The greens aren't huge. If you hit it the right distance a lot you'll get nice birdies shots. I hit it in the fairway a lot. That's encouraging.

"I'm only halfway through. Some guys aren't even a quarter of the way. So it is what it is. I'll just take it easy and see if they give me a tee time this afternoon, be here. If they don't I'll be here tomorrow."

Phil Mickelson (T12; -2): "We had a great end of the draw. And the weather this morning is great. I can't believe the storm's coming in. Hopefully it will stay away. But the conditions right now couldn't be better.

"I think we all left shots out there. But I'm in a position that I'm only, what, six back heading into the last two rounds. Only halfway through. We'll all be playing under the same conditions now.

"So I like the position I'm in. I think the big thing for me was I struggled with the putter the first round, round and a half. And I started to turn it around there in the end and make some and feel good with it. And I think that if I can get hot with the putter I like my chances in the next two rounds.

"I don't really look too much in the US Open relative to what other players are doing, because it's just too easy for guys to make mistakes. Once you start coming back you just come all the way back.

"So in the US Open I'm not really worried about other players. I just know that around par is going to be a good score. This year it very well may be under par. But it's only a birdie here or there that gets me right back in it. So I'm not really worried about other players as much as I am keeping myself under par."

Mike Weir (3; -6): "(On the conditions) You have to just kind of be day after day kind of normal routine. This is odd, to be able to go now. I'll be able to practice a little bit, work on a few things I need to iron out, and go back to the hotel four or five hours. I can see how the course is playing, watch them a little bit and figure out, guesstimate what my tee time is going to be to come out and warm up again.

"Some of these things are out of your control. So best not to worry about it and just see what happens and hopefully this little front blows through - even though I saw the radar doesn't look too good.

"I'm just going to be ready for whatever happens."

Padraig Harrington (Missed cut): "It was a tough day. I got the start I wanted and then it was disappointing to lose it in the middle of the round with a few bad drives and I struggled to get it back after that.

"I have had a bad run for the last four months but I have improved a few elements of my game that have been annoying me for the last couple of years. I just have to wait and let it come back.

"It's hard to take anything positive out of this. My short game was sharp today which was pleasing but it wasn't yesterday and that was the same as last week. One really good day and one really poor day - it needs to be working for the four days and all running together.

"I have sorted out a putting issue that has bothered me for a couple of years and a bunker issue that has been a real struggle for the last couple of years. All that will make me a better player going forward.

"It can come round in a day. This game is fickle in that way but I believe that it can come around in four weeks and that by the time I tee it up at the Open I will be ready."

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