STROKE OF THE DAY

"A good golf course makes you want to play so badly that you hardly have the time to change your shoes. "

We’re midway through the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and several players with Southland ties are still in the mix, including — big surprise! — the top-ranked player in the world.

In all, 14 players with a Southern California connection entered the national championship with hopes of claiming the title. And while for some the dream is still alive, for others it’s a case of better luck next year.

In the U.S. Open, anyone within 10 shots of the lead is guaranteed a weekend tee time. And with first-round leader Stuart Appleby finishing at 3-under through the first two rounds, those at 7-over par or better will be sticking around for 36 more holes.

Here’s a look at who’ll be playing — and who won’t:

WHO’S IN

Tiger Woods. Apparently, taking two months off from competitive play to rehab an injured knee has had no effect on Woods’ ability to contend in a major championship. Playing his last nine holes in 5-under par, the Cypress native posted rounds of 72-68 and stands one shot back of Appleby. But he knows there’s still a long way to go. “It’s just the halfway point and you’re just trying to position yourself,” he said. “This golf course can jump up and bite you in a hurry. You’re just trying to get into contention [for the weekend].”

John Merrick. The Long Beach native is having a solid U.S. Open, posting rounds of 73-72 and at six shots back is confident about his game heading into the weekend. “I feel good about the way I’m playing,” he said after finishing with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole. “I hit some wayward drives today, but [overall] I can’t complain. It feels good to be playing all four rounds on a course so close to home.”

Hunter Mahan. With rounds of 72-74, Mahan stands at 4-over par and could put himself right in the thick of things with a good round on Saturday. And he knows what he needs to do if he if he plans on hoisting the trophy Sunday afternoon. “I’m driving the ball well and I’m rolling it good,” said the Orange native. “I just need to give myself more birdie opportunities.”

Phil Mickelson. The Rancho Santa Fe resident followed his even-par opening round with a 4-over-par 75 on Friday. He didn’t quite shoot himself out of the tournament, but at seven shots back the hometown hero have his work cut out over the weekend. “It was a tough day for me today,” Mickelson said. “I thought that the course was set up as fair was I’ve ever seen it. If you play well you can shoot a number, and I didn’t hit enough fairways today. I’m going to come back tomorrow and try to get this thing back to even par and should have a chance on the weekend.”

John Mallinger. He matched his good friend and playing partner Merrick with a birdie on the 18th hole to post rounds of 73-75. At 6-over par, he made it to the weekend with a stroke to spare. “It was an up-and-down round,” Mallinger said. “I drove it OK, but I need to work on my putting. The course is fair, but it’s sneaky hard. You have to hit it to the right spots on the greens.”

Pat Perez. Prior to qualifying for the Open, the San Diego native, who grew up working on the range at Torrey Pines, said he wanted to play so badly that he wouldn’t even bother to watch it on television if he didn’t make it. Not only did he make it to the event, with rounds of 75-73 he also made it to the weekend with a stroke to spare.

Rickie Fowler. After opening with a stellar 1-under par 71, the 19-year-old amateur from Murrieta came crashing back down to earth with a resounding thud in the second round, shooting an 8-over-par 79. And while Friday’s round may have taken him out of serious contention, he will have a chance to redeem himself over the weekend, having made the cut right on the number. “Making the cut is awesome,” Fowler said. “I just feel like I could have been a little closer to the lead. Yesterday was good. Today was bad. That sums it up.”

Anthony Kim. A graduate of La Quinta High School with a growing reputation for his confidence and swagger on Tour shot rounds of 74-75 to also make it on the number.

WHO’S OUT

Pete Tomasulo. After opening the tournament with a 5-over-par 76, the Long Beach native had his work cut out if he hoped to join good friends Merrick and Mallinger on the weekend. A second-round 75 put an end to that and Tomasulo, who finished two shots off the number at 151, will soon return to work on the Nationwide Tour.

Mark O’Meara. The two-time major champion shot rounds of 75-76 and finished at 9-over par to also miss the cut by two shots. For the 51-year-old Mission Viejo native, this could very well be his final U.S. Open appearance.

Scott Piercy. The San Diego State grad joined Tomasulo and O’Meara at 9-over par. Piercy rebounded nicely from an opening-round 78 with a 73 on Friday. But it turned out to be too little, too late.

Jason Gore. Any hope of recapturing the U.S. Open magic he found in 2005 at Pinehurst disappeared after the Valencia native posted rounds of 79-76 to finish at 13-over par for the tournament.

Craig Barlow. Another pro with Long Beach ties, Barlow shot himself out of the tournament with an opening-round 80. He followed that with a 76 to finish 14-over par in his fourth U.S. Open appearance.

Jay Choi. The 24-year-old Korean-born player who grew up in Cerritos shot 79-80. He’ll be watching the Open on television this weekend.