U.S. OPEN : A 64 Gives Strange a Chance to Repeat : Kite Trails by One Shot After 36 Holes

There is pressure enough while playing in a U.S. Open, but now Curtis Strange has the added burden of being in position to become the first player to win consecutive titles since Ben Hogan in 1950 and ’51.

Strange moved quickly to the top of the leader board Friday by shooting a 64, six under par, for a 36-hole total of 135 at Oak Hill Country Club.

The PGA player of the year in 1988 with earnings of more than $1 million, Strange held a one-stroke lead over Tom Kite, who had a 69 to go with the 67 he shot Thursday.

Scott Simpson, the former USC star who won the Open in 1987, also remained in contention. He shot a par 70 for a two-day total of 137 and was tied with Jay Don Blake, who shot a 71.

Sixteen players were within five shots of the lead.

Strange made two birdies and an eagle on the first five holes to pick up momentum early on a day when a brief rainstorm postponed play for 14 minutes late in the afternoon.

When someone asked Strange if he’d had a notion that he was in the lead after holing a 115-yard wedge shot for an eagle on the par-five, 570-yard fourth hole, he responded dryly:

“When that thing went in, I knew I wasn’t far from it. I told myself I didn’t want to back off now.”

Strange was, of course, gratified by his round, which included five birdies and an eagle. He had only one bogey, at the par-four, 458-yard 17th hole.

“I played really good and kept my thoughts where they should be,” he said. “But it’s only Friday, and we have a long ways to go. Tomorrow is the important round, the one in which you want to stay close.”

Johnny Miller set the U.S. Open record for one round with a 63 in 1973.

Strange said he didn’t give it a thought when he was on the course with its tight fairways and penalizing rough.

“I couldn’t care less because 64 isn’t bad,” he added.

And when someone told him that he had tied the course record set by Hogan in 1942 and equaled by Jeff Sluman in 1987, Strange said: “You don’t give a darn what you shoot. You just block it out and think about your game.”

Strange wasn’t being disrespectful of records, but winning the Open is a much higher priority.

Reporters were continually reminding Strange of the pressure of trying to emulate Hogan.

Strange smiled and said, “I was going along having a good time here and I was surprised how calm I was. I won’t be as calm now.”

Strange, 34, doesn’t have to be reminded about chasing the ghost of Hogan’s accomplishment. He has been told enough about it all year.

“The Open gets your blood flowing,” he said. “You want to do well because you’re the defending champion.”

Strange hasn’t won on the PGA Tour this year and he said he just hasn’t played consistently.

But he was obviously proud of his 64 on a demanding course.

“It was better than any round that I shot last year at Brookline (Mass.), he said, referring to the 1988 Open.

Strange said he maintains an outwardly calm demeanor on the course but admitted that he’s more nervous than he might appear to be.

“Now it begins,” he said. “Jack Nicklaus once told me that you can’t win the Open on Thursday and Friday, but you can lose it.”

Kite, 39, is recognized as, perhaps, the best active player who hasn’t won a major event--the U.S. Open, Masters, British Open and PGA Championship. He’s in position now.

“I didn’t have as easy a day today as I had Thursday when I shot 67,” Kite said. “But it was more of a satisfying round because I wasn’t driving that well. I just hung in there when I could have knocked myself out.”

Kite had three birdies and two bogeys in his round of 69.

Asked about the pressure on Strange as the defending champion, Kite said: “I don’t think a one-shot lead at this point makes much difference. There are guys who are seven or eight shots back who still have a chance to win.”

Strange beat Kite last November in a playoff at the rich Nabisco Championships in Pebble Beach. Kite had won at least one tournament for seven consecutive years, but he was shut out in 1988.

Kite, who is paired with Strange today, said they were going to have as much fun as the competition will allow.

“We’re good friends,” Kite said, adding, “I haven’t had much fun in the Open.”

Kite’s best finish in 17 previous Opens was a tie for eighth. He has missed the cut six times.

Some prominent players missed the cut Friday, namely Ben Crenshaw, Sandy Lyle, Bob Tway, Fuzzy Zoeller and Lee Trevino.

Simpson said he wasn’t hitting the ball especially well, but his chipping saved him in his round of 70. He had four birdies that were offset by four bogeys.

When asked how he felt while trying to defend his Open championship last year, Simpson said, “I was pretty relaxed. People said a defending champion couldn’t win and that helped me to relax.”

Simpson gave it a good try, though, leading after two rounds and only one shot behind after 54 holes.

“I don’t think the pressure will bother Curtis,” Simpson said. “He’s a great player, a real good iron player. He has a chance to do it.”

Simpson, 33, is confident, too, about his own game.

“I’m just thankful I’m playing good,” he said. “Winning in Atlanta (three weeks ago) helped my confidence a lot. And it’s a lot of fun to play well in the Open.”

Now the question is, how much longer will the fun last for Simpson, Kite--and Strange.

Golf Notes

Jack Nicklaus, who was one stroke off the lead with his 67 Thursday, soared to a 74 Friday for a 36-hole total of 141. . . . Jay Don Blake, Payne Stewart and Bernhard Langer were the co-leaders Thursday, each shooting a 66. Blake slipped two shots behind Curtis Strange. Langer had a miserable round of 78 (144 total), while Stewart shot a 75 (141). . . . The cut was at 145. . . . Tom Pernice, the former UCLA player, had a 75 after shooting a 67 Thursday. . . . Nick Faldo, the Masters champion, is at 140 after shooting a 72. . . . There were 21 sub-par rounds Thursday, breaking the first-round Open record of 19 set in 1980. . . . There were 17 sub-par rounds Friday.