Under ordinary circumstances three-over par 73s for Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy would not be a reason for celebration.

But under the peculiar circumstances at Merion Golf Club this week where the US Open is being staged, the world’s two top golfers were more than happy to settle for that score in the second round.

They remain handily placed for the weekend, when Woods will be going for a 15th major and McIlroy a third.

They also avoided the fates of such former major winners as Jim Furyk, Graeme McDowell and Zach Johnson, who, playing together, reached the halfway stage at a cumulative 23-over par.

Woods and McIlroy chatted amicably and joked after their round, which was more than could be said for the third member of their grouping, Masters champion Adam Scott, who struggled to a 75 and seven-over 147 total.

“Yes,” Woods shot back when asked if he fancied his chances for the weekend,

“I played well. I just made a couple of mistakes out there today, but I really played well. Maybe I could have gotten one or two more out of it, but it was a pretty good day.”

Asked about his left arm injury, Woods said he had picked it up while playing in last month’s US PGA Players Championship.

Was the injury getting worse under the strain of Merion’s thick rough? Woods would only say: “Well, it is what it is.”

McIlroy, who carded identical scores to Woods in the first two rounds: 73 and 70, said he would head off into the weekend full of confidence.

“I’m very happy. Right in there for the weekend. I don’t think I’ll be too far away by the end of the day,” he said.

“…At the end of the day, there’s going to be a guy lifting the trophy at the end of the week. It doesn’t matter if he’s plus five, minus five, plus 16.”

Down in the disaster zone, 2010 US Open champion McDowell headed home at least with the consolation that pre-tournament he was one of few who warned that, short though it may be at 6,996 yards, Merion punched above its weight.

There were complaints from some players destined to miss the cut that Friday’s pin placements bordered on the infernal on the part of the US Golf Association.

But 2003 US Open champion Furyk said he would head for home with no regrets.

“It’s a wonderful old golf course,” he said.