SAN DIEGO – When Jon Mills missed a 10-foot putt at No. 4 that would have given him three birdies in a four-hole stretch Friday, an NBC spotter who admired Mills’ swing lamented, “Would have made the TV.”

The former Kent State All-American might not have cared at that point. He was thrilled that he had recovered from a disastrous start in the second round of the 108th U.S. Open.

Teeing off on the back nine at Torrey Pines Golf Course, Mills played his first five holes 4-over par, including a double-bogey 6 at No. 10. Aided by much-needed birdies at Nos. 1 and 2, Mills pulled himself together and carded a 4-over 75 for a two-day total of 5-over 147.

Playing in his second consecutive Open and his first as a member of the PGA Tour, the resident of Indiana, Pa., made his first cut in the national championship.

“I felt I played better than 5-over,” Mills said. “But any time you make the cut, especially in the Open, is awesome. My first cut made in this event, it helps with my confidence. I’ve been playing well of late. If I can keep playing well and make some more putts, it could be an interesting weekend.”

Former KSU teammate Ben Curtis, the 2003 British Open winner from Stow, didn’t fare as well. He shot 5-over 76 for a 9-over 151 total, 1 stroke from the cut line. Asked the turning point of his round, caddie Andy Sutton chimed in, “Putting your shoes on this morning.”

A family friend following Mills counted six lip-outs on the day. The two that bothered Mills most came at holes 7 and 8. At No. 7, he had to chip from the rough in front of a green-side bunker and his ball sailed 8 feet past the pin. At the par-3 No. 8, his tee shot landed on the left fringe. Usually an excellent lag putter, Mills sent this one 10 feet past. Both par putts hit the edge of the cup.

“I didn’t count, but there were enough of them,” Mills said of the lip-outs. “It’s one of those things.”

Both Mills and Curtis were frustrated on the greens, even though Mills teed off in the first group at 10 a.m. and Curtis was five groups behind.

“I’ve been fighting my putter so far this week,” said Mills, who shot 1-over 72 Thursday. “I haven’t felt comfortable over the ball. I overanalyzed too much on the greens, especially on the 10th hole.

“Being the first group off, you’d think there would be pretty decent greens. Yesterday, you saw all the bumps. When you’re looking at a 6-footer downhill with spike marks and footprints, it can be a little nerve-wracking.”

Curtis said, “The greens were bad, worst greens we play all year, by far. They’re bumpy; they’re hard to read. I hit a lot of good putts, but nothing went in. You just try to stay positive. I hit good putts from 3 feet and missed. What are you going to do?”

Mills was pleased that he bounced back Friday and missed only three fairways. He’s 19-of-28 in that category for the two days.

“I felt like I hit the ball solid,” Mills said. “Even though I got off to a rough start, I knew there were a lot of holes left. I said, ‘Let’s get through this.’ I set a minigoal to play the front 9 in 2-under.” He shot par.

He was looking at a possible pairing with fellow Canadian Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, who also finished 5-over in the morning. The two never have played a competitive round together but have enjoyed three practice rounds, including nine holes this week.

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(c) 2008, Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio).

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AP-NY-06-13-08 2151EDT