Runaway golf cart injures US Open fans in freak accident

Five people were injured Friday at the US Open when one of several boxes being loaded onto a golf cart fell onto the accelerator and sent the cart into spectators.

The California Highway Patrol says a vendor parked the cart near the 16th hole at Pebble Beach and was walking away when a box fell onto the gas pedal, moving it forward as it circled at full speed.

It struck four spectators and the vendor before it was brought under control.

“The vendor that was originally driving the golf cart put a stop to it by removing that box," California Highway Patrol's Jessica Madueno said.

The Monterey Herald says two victims were taken by ambulance to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

The victims were aged between 25 and 82 years old.

The USGA acknowledged the accident in a statement and that three spectators and a vendor required medical treatment.

Record total shoots American into the lead

Gary Woodland will start day three of the US Open with a two-shot lead after a dramatic second round, during which former Masters winner Patrick Reed snapped a club in a temper tantrum.

Woodland beat Tiger Woods' record for the lowest 36-hole total recorded during a US Open at Pebble Beach, having posted 68-65 for a nine-under-par score and a two-shot lead.

England's Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open winner, shot 65-70 to be solo second at seven-under, while 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen (66, 70) is third a stroke further behind.

Adam Scott is the leading Australian at three-under.

Woodland's 133 beat Woods' 36-hole record at Pebble Beach by one stroke, which Woods set during his 15-shot win at the 2000 edition of this tournament.

The big-hitting Woodland, who led the 2018 US PGA Championship after two rounds before playing with Woods in that event's final round, said he was starting to feel comfortable in contention at majors.

Woodland finished tied eighth at the recent PGA Championship.

"I've been in this situation recently, which has been a huge help," Woodland said.

"I was leading after 36 holes (at the 2018 PGA Championship) and played Tiger on Sunday at Bellerive. That was a huge being in that atmosphere."

Reed, the 2018 Masters champ, whiffed a greenside pitch shot at Pebble Beach's iconic par-five 18th hole, which led to a double-bogey.

The controversial American was then splashed over social media when he snapped a wedge over his knee in frustration.

However Reed made the two-over cut on the number.

Meanwhile, Australian former world No.1 Scott survived bogeys on the first two holes to post a 69 and a three-under score.

Scott (70, 69) posted two opening rounds under par for the first time in his US Open career. However, he said his best was yet to come at Pebble Beach.

"It's really good stuff, but it just doesn't feel like I'm opening up yet," Scott said after his round.

"There was lots of good stuff and hopefully I can find that nice rhythm at the weekend.

Marc Leishman (74), Jason Day (73) and Cameron Smith (72) all finished at one-over.

However, Australians Matt Jones (three-over), Aaron Baddeley (five-over), Marcus Fraser (10-over) and Brett Drewitt (11-over) all missed the cut.

with agencies