Nick Taylor plans to return to Washington

FARMINGDALE. N.Y. — Canadian Nick Taylor is returning to the University of Washington for his senior season.

That's the plan, anyway.

Even his record-tying 65 Friday didn't immediately make him change his mind about turning pro.

"I'm planning to go back [to school] and that's been the plan the whole time, to finish my last year," Taylor said in The Toronto Sun.

"It's something you experience only once in a lifetime," he said. "I'm having a fun time with friends and meeting new people. It's where I want to be."

There is one thing that could change his mind.

"If I won the Canadian Open or something like that, then obviously, I would turn pro," said Taylor, a 21-year-old senior-to-be. "Something that extreme would have to happen. Staying in school is what I want to do."

Through 10 holes of his final round, Taylor was tied for 34th at 6 over.

Earlier, Taylor joined James McHale (1947) and Jim Simons (1971) as the only amateurs to shoot 65 at the Open.

Duval in position

No. 882 in the world, No. 3 at the U.S. Open with 16 holes remaining.

David Duval doesn't qualify as one of those out-of-nowhere stories this week at Bethpage Black. He has captured a major championship, has prevailed in 13 PGA Tour events and won four times in a three-month span 10 years ago on his way to spending 15 weeks as the world's No. 1 ranked player.

A series of ups and downs — mostly downs — derailed his game since.

So here he is, with pins honoring the New York State Police and the Fire Department of New York on either side of his collar, in position to return this morning with a shot at a stunning U.S. Open victory. He's 2 under through two holes of the final round, in a four-way tie for third place and in the hunt. "I've been there before," Duval said. "It's not like a distant memory."

New Yorkers

tread the line

The galleries on hand for the two times the U.S. Open has been played at Bethpage Black have taken their share of criticism for treading on the line between funny and foul.

"The crowds are definitely different in New York, but I think it's good and gets you going as a player," Northern Ireland native Graeme McDowell said. "I certainly enjoy a wee bit of energy and shouting, and the players like to get involved in that. I don't like it if it gets abusive, obviously, and I know certain players in the past have had a hard time from the New York crowds. But sometimes it has to get close to the line to make it fun."