By Dave Shedloski

Hutchinson, Kan. – Galleries continue to shower adulation on native son Tom Watson at Prairie Dunes Golf Club, and the golf legend is only too happy to soak up the good vibrations. But no amount of wishing on a star – or for a star – is going to carry Watson to a Sunday podium finish in the U.S. Senior Open.

No, only the full and proper application of his still considerable skills can ameliorate the frustration Watson has come to know in the one senior title he desires most. Only the most elementary approach will do the trick, a task for which Watson has proven to be well-suited even as he has flailed about in misery.

Though a scrambling second-round 66 gave the former U.S. Open champion the lead midway through the 27^th U.S. Senior Open Friday, there is much work left for Watson and many hurdles to overcome, some of them the invisible variety that seem to pop up for him in this championship.

Born in Stillwell, Kan., and living in Kansas City, Mo., Watson would be a most popular champion. But he would be a popular choice on the moon, Mars or in Michigan considering that he has never finished out of the top 25 in his six previous starts and has three top-5 finishes, including runner-up in 2002 and '03.

"I've come close before, but the status of my game is really in flux," Watson, 56, said prior to the first round.

Regardless of form, Watson's status as a contender hasn't varied much, a condition he proved again on Friday with a round made up of great putting and just enough accuracy to avoid a disaster hole.

Counting his lead position after round two, Watson has been in first or second place nine of the 26 rounds he has completed, and he has been among the top five after 14 rounds. Only five times has he gone home having not posted one of the 25 best scores.

Tom Watson, on the eighth tee Friday, said after his 66 that he needs to straighten out his driver. (Steve Gibbons/USGA)

You can't win if you don't stay close to the lead, but being there also results in a more lethal sting when disappointment ensues.

Prairie Dunes would be a storybook venue for Watson, a seven-time major winner, to finally close the deal, but he can only accomplish his mission with consistent performance, something lacking at the current hour.

"Basically, it's trust in your ability to do the job," said Watson. "Right now, my trust in my golf swing is a little bit lacking. I wish I could say I'm hitting on all cylinders, but I'm not exactly doing that right now. I'm like one of those engines, the old four, six, eight - you never know what cylinder you're going to be hitting on."

What is of little use to Watson is looking back on past disappointments or looking ahead to Sunday. He won't allow himself to think about results – good or ill – until the last putt drops.

"It's great playing in front of my home crowd," he said. "It's wonderful playing a golf course that I really like. But I have a great respect for this golf course … it can eat your lunch if you're not playing very well. I don't look at hole 72 until hole 72 is right there, and I tee it up."