Woods faces uphill task

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - Tiger Woods faced an uphill battle in pursuit of a fourth U.S. Open crown after ending a weather-delayed second round a distant 11 strokes off the pace on Saturday.

Playing in the tougher half of the draw at a rain-sodden Bethpage Black, the world number one again struggled on the greens on his way to a one-under-par 69.

A bogey on his final hole, the par-four ninth, gave him a three-over total of 143 at the venue where he won the 2002 U.S. Open.

"I'm hitting it well enough," Woods told reporters after carding four birdies and three bogeys while totalling 30 putts in persistent drizzle.

"I just need to make a few more putts. The putts I hit well didn't go in and the putts I hit poorly weren't even close.

"The greens are so bumpy and they're getting slower and slower. You don't want to run the ball past the hole, trust me. It's a little tough coming back.

"You could be pretty aggressive today," Woods added, referring to the rain-softened conditions. "Have the ball on the fairway, no water on the ball, be aggressive and fire at the flags."

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