By George! McNeill 36-Hole Leader at Scioto C.C.

America is celebrating its 250th birthday on Saturday, but the way things transpired at sultry Scioto Country Club on Friday, the fireworks came a little early.

On another oppressive day in central Ohio – and there have been many this week – when it would have been quite acceptable for the field in the 46th U.S. Senior Open Championship to wilt in the 90-degree heat, the leaderboard was lit up with golf’s version of pyrotechnics.

George McNeill, who never broke 70 in five U.S. Open starts, produced the biggest noise in Friday’s second round, posting a championship-best, 4-under-par 66 to accompany his opening-round 68. He owns a two-shot lead over defending champion Padraig Harrington. He was among five competitors to shoot 67s on the classic Donald Ross design that was renovated seven years ago by Andrew Green.

First-round co-leaders Stewart Cink and Charlie Wi, both of whom posted even-par 70s, are three back at 3-under 137 with 2016 co-runner-up Miguel Angel Jimenez (68).

A large group at 2-under 138 includes U.S. Senior Open debutantes Henrik Stenson (67), Ben Crane (70), Tommy Gainey (69) and Ian Poulter (69) along with Stephen Ames (69), Alex Cejka (69) and qualifier Chris Devlin (68), a former college teammate of 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.

The cut came at 4-over 144 with exactly 60 golfers – 59 professionals and one amateur – getting inside the number. Play was completed just as a storm was approaching the grounds.

Ranking second in greens in regulation (30 of 36) and tied for second in birdies (9) has the 50-year-old McNeill in new territory for a major championship – either on the PGA Tour or now the PGA Tour Champions. In fact, McNeill only made 2 of 12 cuts in majors while competing on the PGA Tour, with his best finish a tie for 62nd in the 2012 PGA Championship. But he does have five top 10s in regular individual PGA Tour Champions events in 2026 and was the runner-up with partner and two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Kenny Perry at the American Family Insurance Championship.

McNeill, a two-time PGA Tour winner who attended Florida State, had one of those rounds where he found most of his targets, the lone blemish coming at the par-3 third, his 12th hole of the day after starting on No. 10. He concluded his day in style, sinking a 25-foot downhill birdie putt on the par-3 ninth. He also took advantage of both par-5s (6 and 12) and added birdies on Nos. 13 and 17.

“Go get some rest, get some dinner, take a shower,” said McNeill of his evening plans. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I don't think I'm going to try to do anything different than I normally would at a tournament.”

Except his two fellow competitors in Saturday’s final grouping – they are going in threesomes off split tees due to pending afternoon storms – will be two of the biggest names in senior golf: Harrington and Cink.

Harrington not only won his second U.S. Senior Open title last year at The Broadmoor, but he also won The Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale Golf Club in England. Cink, meanwhile, has won the year’s first two senior majors: the Senior PGA Championship and Regions Tradition.

Like McNeill, Harrington had only one blemish on his card, which came at the par-4 16 th. Having started on the par-4 10th hole, the affable Irishman birdies Nos. 11, 12, 17 and 2 before making pars on his last seven holes. His putter saved him on a day when he hit just 9 of 14 fairways and 10 of 18 greens.

“I'd like to play well on the weekend, but if I don't play well, I'm going to try to win this tournament another way,” said Harrington. “It's just one of those things that with experience I know things don't go your way at times when you're leading, and things can feel like bad breaks.

“I've seen it before. It doesn't mean I have any perfect ability to deal with it. I've certainly seen all these situations. So, I won't be surprised by anything, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to handle it that well, either.”

For the second consecutive day, the 53-year-old Cink got better the longer he spent in the searing sun. In the first round, Cink carded a back-nine 30 for a 67. On Friday, Cink was 3 over after a bogey on the fourth hole, his 13th of the day, before rallying with three birdies over his last four holes.

Living in Georgia and having traveled all over the world to compete in such places as Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) as well as select PGA Tour stops, Cink is all too familiar with hot and sticky playing conditions. Of course, at home, he can ride in a golf cart while preparing for events. Nevertheless, it still takes optimum focus, proper hydration and eating properly to succeed in the cauldron he and his fellow competitors have faced this week.

“The heat is a factor,” said Cink, the owner of eight PGA Tour Champions titles. “I don't know what it is, but the heat just makes it harder. You can have a lapse of concentration very easily.

“Then you put a golf course like Scioto in front of you with a lot of shots that are just kind of like tempting you to be a little more aggressive than you probably should be. A perfect example of that was the 18th hole, my 9th hole. Hit a great drive [in the middle of the fairway], and then just [hit] the worst second shot; like just asleep at the wheel there in the swing.”

Cink did save his best for last when the early-afternoon temperatures were at their peak. Three birdies and a clutch par save at the 521-yard eighth, the second-hardest hole on the course (4.43 stroke average), from 12 feet, turned what could have been a 73 or 74 into a 70.

“That definitely helps the confidence,” said Cink, who hit 12 of 18 greens and registered 30 putts. “Just seeing the ball go in the hole is huge in this game. I salvaged an okay round when it was really pretty rough all around. I kept shooting myself in the foot, just not executing very well.

“It's a tough track. It punishes you if you're a little bit off.”

Wi, a native of the Republic of Korea who moved to Southern California when he was 10, shook off an early double-bogey 6 on the second hole and another bogey on No. 5 to play 3-under golf over his last 15 holes. That included four birdies and a 5 on the par-4 16th hole. He currently leads the field with 11 birdies.

Jimenez, still going strong at 62 years of age, registered a second consecutive sub-70 round. Known for his unusual pre-round workout routine and his love of cigars and fine wine, the Spaniard, coming off a four-win campaign in 2025, got to 4 under par for the championship with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 sixth hole, only to give a stroke back at the eighth.

 To prepare himself for Scioto, Devlin carded a 65 at the Country Club of Birmingham’s West Course, another Ross venue not far from his Hoover, Ala., residence. He also made a reconnaissance trip to Scioto after qualifying on June 9 in Nebraska.

Now the managing director of Priority Care Systems Connex, a medical services organization and value-based care network that focuses on preventive medicine, chronic condition management, and the enhancement of personalized patient treatment plans, the Northern Ireland native didn’t have much thought of competing professionally again after “retiring” in 2013. After a four-year career at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he gave up part of his scholarship money to recruit good friend and fellow Royal Portrush member Graeme McDowell to the Division I school, Devlin tried to earn a living playing in Europe. He also qualified for three Korn Ferry Tour events and the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

A back injury led to a new career in healthcare as well as amateur reinstatement. He even qualified for a couple of U.S. Amateurs, including 2021 (Oakmont) at the age of 46. Two years ago, he won the Trans-Miss Mid-Amateur by 14 strokes That’s when friends told him he should try playing professionally again as a senior (50 and older), and he qualified for the 2025 U.S. Senior Open, tying for 55th.

But with limited playing opportunities – the PGA Tour Champions is no longer conducting qualifying to get on the circuit – Devlin has focused most of his energy toward his business. It also pained him to watch this year’s Regions Traditions at his home club (Greystone). The U.S. Senior Open, however, gives him a chance, and he’s taken full advantage the past few days, hitting 14 of 14 fairways on Friday en route to his 68.

His highlight came at the par-5 12th when he hit a 3-wood to 12 feet to set up an eagle.

“Just the magnitude of all the USGA events, they're first class,” said Devlin, now playing in his sixth, but fifth since qualifying for the 2021 U.S. Amateur at 46. “It's such a great experience to play in any one of them. Every golf course is set up in a fair way, but a very, very difficult way. So, your preparation has to be first class…especially for someone like me who's not used to playing in all of the big [senior professional] events. It's been certainly a great experience.”

What’s Next

Due to forecasted late-afternoon weather, Round 3 tee times have been moved up with the first groups going off split tees at 7:26 a.m. EDT. Peacock/NBCSN will have live coverage from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., with NBC/Peacock showing coverage on a tape-delay basis from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are still available for both weekend rounds by clicking here.

Notable

• The stroke average for Round 2 (73.05) was more than a stroke better than Round 1 (74.12).
  
  
• A total of 18 amateurs began the week, but only one made the cut: Haymes Snedeker. The older brother of 10-time PGA Tour winner and 2026 United States Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker replaced Tiger Woods when he officially withdrew late last month. Haymes, the first alternate from the Pearland, Texas, qualifying site, made three consecutive birdies from No. 5 to post a 2-under 68 on Friday for a 36-hole total of 1-over 141.
  
  
• Shots like the one Chad Campbell produced late Friday afternoon on the par-3 ninth hole, his 36th of the championship, don’t always show up on highlight reels or the box score. His 9-iron to 2 feet set up a birdie that knocked out the 10 players sitting on 5-over 145. Campbell made the cut on the number (4-over 144).
  
  
• Four past champions survived to play the weekend. Besides Padraig Harrington, who is in solo second, Jeff Maggert, Colin Montgomerie and Gene Sauers made the cut. Sauers won at Scioto in 2016.
  
  
• Olin Browne and David Toms were the two past U.S. Senior Open champion to miss the cut.
  
  
• Other notables to miss the cut were two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, 2007 U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera, 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell, Davis Love III, reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion Michael McCoy, NBC/Golf Channel analyst Notah Begay III and Jay Haas, who saw his streak of consecutive made cuts end at 18. At 72 years of age, the 1975 USA Walker Cupper and former Wake Forest All-American was the oldest player in the field.
  
  
• Kevin Sutherland withdrew prior to the second round. No reason was officially given, but he has been dealing with back issues. Boo Weekley also withdrew during Round 2.

Quotable

“The course conditions are perfect, which helps. It's getting firm. It's getting fast, which is what the championship wants and needs, weather permitting obviously. We may have some weather coming in tomorrow, but we'll see. Overall, I hit it mostly where I was looking today, so that's good, and made a few putts.” – George McNeill

“It played short this afternoon. In the afternoon it heats up. I know it was hot yesterday morning, but it just started to play short. The ball was running out. There was a bit of breeze. But I think every person who was on the golf course was thankful for that breeze. It's very rare that we want it to be windy. It definitely helps that it wasn't anywhere near as warm this afternoon. It didn't feel as warm as it did yesterday.” – Padraig Harrington

“Feel good. First week with old mates, which is always pretty special. I had a great couple of days with Miguel [Angel Jimenez], who played lovely and obviously Darren [Clarke]. We've played so much golf with each other for so many years. It's great to be able to play with the guys and see so many familiar faces.” – Darren Clarke

“You've got to put the ball on the fairway. The rough is very, very penal. Fortunately, that's what's allowed me to score this week. One of the strengths of my game is obviously driving the ball straight. I was able to keep it in the fairway for the most part both days. For a start, you've got to be able to do that. Secondly, going into the greens, they're such small targets, and even in the quadrants in the greens are even smaller. It's all about strategy of being able to do that.” – Chris Devlin

“I will not step outside the AC (air conditioning) more today other than going to my car and from the car to the hotel. No, I think it's conserving energy. I'm not really going to become any better by spending another hour out in the heat. I'm playing with what I have this week and trying to do my best.” – Henrik Stenson

 “I think just got to keep hitting fairways. The biggest thing out here is you stay out of this thick rough. If you can stay out of this thick rough and keep it in the fairway and you keep giving yourself birdie putts, you have a chance to make some birdies.” – Tommy Gainey

“Well, usually you don't have to see those guys for a couple weeks. I mean, it's unfortunate. We've all been on both sides of it. Just kind of do the best we can and see how it all adds up.” – Chad Campbell, whose birdie on his 36th hole (par-3 ninth) knocked out all the players sitting on 5-over 145.

“It's amazing to be here in Scioto. Just so many people. Even the people who have retired from the club are out here watching me. They have such a good community here, the membership's great. Plus, I could see all my old [Ohio State] teammates. They're working in the area. It's awesome.” – Ryan Armour (the only Ohioan to make the 36-hole cut)

David Shefter is a senior staff writer at the USGA. Email him at dshefter@usga.org.