Iain Carter BBC golf correspondent

The most striking feature of Friday's play at Shinnecock Hills was the remarkable reception Phil Mickelson was given by the galleries. It was phenomenal.

Mickelson has always been given plenty of support in New York - at Bethpage two years ago, for example - but this has gone to a new level after his victory at Augusta.

Mickelson drew the largest crowds at Shinnecock Hills

Walking with him inside the ropes made me wonder what it was like to walk with Arnie's Army when Palmer was in his pomp.

We have become accustomed to fans reacting in awe to the deeds of Tiger Woods, but what we are witnessing with Mickelson is admiration and affection.

Shigeki Maruyama is another who really connects with the crowd. He always plays with a smile on his face, and he has had plenty to smile about.

One day a Japanese player will win a major. Given his form and past successes on this tour, it might just be Maruyama this week. His name isn't out of place on this leader board.

Among the Europeans, Sergio Garcia is still in with a shout, even if history is against him as nobody who has won at Westchester the week before has gone on to win the big one.

Breezy conditions are predicted for weekend and, with only 11 players under par in the calm conditions, this course is set to get much tougher. It may be that the leaders are sucked back to the chasing pack.

The likes of Padraig Harrington and Phillip Price will feel frustrated to be four and three over respectively, as there are too many shots to make up and too many players to overtake.

Woods was continually forced to recover errant drives

At least they made the cut, which is more than can be said for most Europeans.

Woods feels that he could make the most of the windier conditions, but he has yet to show the form that suggests a charge is possible.

Despite rallying late in his round on Friday, he still looks as though he doesn't know if his drives will go right or straight.

His former coach Butch Harmon's assessment that Tiger is in denial and his swing is out of sorts appears extremely well founded, although you can never discount his fighting qualities, which have again been evident.

The quality of the course is reflected by the quality of the leader board. Don't forget that Ernie Els and Vijay Singh are among those under par and they threaten to make this a heavyweight climax.