ON FRIDAY the 13th, it was perhaps predictable that things wouldn't go smoothly in the second round of the US Open. But with play at Congressional CC delayed for over two hours because of an electrical storm, Tiger Woods seemed impervious to all out side influences as he battled right back into contention with a timely 67.

It left him only four strokes behind the new leader, Tom Lehman (137), on a day of sharply contrasting fortunes. Colin Montgomerie suffered grievously in the sweltering heat, but the overall picture will not become clear until a large section of the field complete the second round this morning.

After a brilliant, opening 65, Montgomerie's strategy was to protect what he had. Normally immaculate driving, however, failed him repeatedly. As a consequence, there wasn't a birdie in sight as he made an undignified tumble down the leaderboard on the way to a dismal 76.

"I always suffer in the heat," he said. "In fact I haven't been well since I came here, and I had to ask my wife for some pills halfway through today's round."

Meanwhile, the 21 year old who has changed America's relationship with golf celebrated a move into contention by flexing his muscles with the media. On being asked why he had declined to be interviewed after an opening 74, Woods replied curtly: "Why do you want to talk to a guy who is nine shots back?"

When the questions persisted, Woods held his ground. "I have to do this (talk to the media) every week and it's my right to decline," he insisted. "If I'm not near the lead, like yesterday, I shouldn't be expected to answer questions. Why didn't you talk to Elkington - or Norman (who shot 75)?"

At that stage, he didn't know the extent to which he had closed the gap. But Montgomerie's troubles meant blessed salvation for those relying on the 10 shot rule. Play will resume at 7.0 this morning and it is hoped to complete the second round by about 9.30. The third round will then begin IS minutes later.

Either way, the qualifiers won't include John Daly who quit after nine holes yesterday, by which stage he was 10 over par. "I just started feeling real weak after a few holes today, and by the time I got to number nine, I was physically exhausted," he said. Daly returned to tournament action in the Memorial two weeks ago, following treatment for alcoholism.

The decision to call in the players at the threat of lightning was eminently sensible, given the tragedy of Hazeltine six years ago, when a spectator died of heart failure, having been struck by lightning. Then there was the case two months later when a spectator was killed by lightning during the USPGA Championship at Crooked Stick.

Lehman, who has led this championship at the 54 hole stage for the last two years, played in the same three ball as Woods and defending champion Steve Jones. Significantly, the break came as they stood on the 17th tee and when they resumed, Jones proceeded to card a triple bogey seven there on the way to a 75.

But the reigning British Open champion said: "I like the way I'm playing. In the US Open, if you're near the lead and don't beat yourself, you've got a great chance of winning. My concentration is good and I'm succeeding in having a sense of peace and serenity on the course.

Which was quite an achievement, given the extraordinary excitement generated by Woods. A poll carried out by the newspaper USA Today earlier this week asked readers what would they pay to caddie for Tiger Woods. The response worked out at an average of $7,870. And to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House? A decidedly modest $2,380.

Lehman did remarkably well to shoot a level par 70, despite a bogey on the 18th where he missed the green on the right and had virtually no pitch, with the hole only five yards in from that side.

Ernie Els is a stroke further back, tied with American Stewart Cink on 138 - two under par - after a sparkling 67 that contained five birdies, four of them in an outward 31. Using his length to impressive effect, the 1994 champion became one of the few competitors to birdie both par fives, pitching to five feet at the ninth and hitting two drivers onto the 583 yard 15th.

The South African, who was in the same group as Daly and Payne Stewart, said: "Obviously we waited for John on the 10th tee, where his caddie was also waiting. But after consulting a USGA official, we went on."

The environs of the Congressional clubhouse were remarkably quiet yesterday morning, which made it a perfect time to do some shopping in the merchandising outlets. The reason? A huge percentage of the 30,000 attendance were thronging the fairways with Woods.

It was a crowd remarkable for its number of blacks, women, Asians, older folk, children and latter day hippies. And this, for a sport that has symbolised the clubhouse exclusivity of corporate America. As the Washington Post suggested, Tiger's throng looks so much like America, it threatens to be a case of life imitating a Nike commercial.

Their hero smiled a lot more than he had done on Thursday. The mood was certainly helped by a birdie on the 402 yard first which he reduced to a two iron, eight iron and six foot putt. And some glorious iron shots brought further birdies at the third, fifth and seventh in an outward 31 four under par.

Though he bogeyed the 13th after hitting a two iron into the right rough, birdies at the next two left Woods one under par for the championship. His four at the long 15th was particularly interesting. "I felt pumped us and with 265 yards to the hole, I tried to cut a soft three wood," he said. "But I pulled it." From left of the green, he then proceeded to pitch to two feet.

He was brought back to par, however, by a bogey at the 16th, where he overshot the green with a 195 yard six iron. And when play resumed, he also bogeyed the 17th, which he three putted. But he remained up beat. "My objective is to keep getting better each day." And who would bet against him?