SAN DIEGO — It's been 11 years since Ernie Els won the U.S. Open, but during the first two rounds of the 2008 tournament, Els has shown he still knows how to handle the challenge of an Open championship.

Els finds himself at even par, three strokes off the lead. Had it not been for a few hiccups in the middle of his Friday round, Els could have very well be in the lead at the halfway point.

"I've played well in U.S. Opens before, so I kind of know what to do mentally and what to expect," Els said. "It feels good (to be in contention)."

It's been an up-and-down year for Els. He won the Honda Classic in March, but then went on a stretch where he had a hard time breaking 70 as he struggled with swing changes that he was working on with his new coach Butch Harmon.

In the last month Els has started to play much better, evidenced by a sixth-place finish at The Players Championship last month.

Els said after Thursday's first round much of his struggles during the middle of the year have been caused by not being mentally ready to play, but he feels like he's got that straightened out during the first 36 holes at Torrey Pines.

"Mentally, I'm really up for it," Els said. "I've got no problem getting myself motivated. I had a couple of swing faults there on the back, that I rectified coming in. I feel a lot better now about tomorrow."

Love in contention: Finally healthy after battling through a severe ankle injury that required surgery, Davis Love III fired a 2-under 69 on Friday, leaving him at 1 under.

Love, who is competing in his 18th straight U.S. Open, feels blessed to be back playing at a high level.

"I think physically I can play the game, and I think if I get on a roll, get my confidence going I can have a few more really, really good years, and possibly great," Love said.

Harrington bounces back: After an opening-round 78, 2007 British Open champion Padraig Harrington bounced back on Friday with a 4-under 67, leaving him at 3 over and in strong position heading into the weekend.

Harrington, who has not won a tournament since capturing that British Open, actually felt like he hit the ball better in the first round, but he struggled mightily on the crusty poa annua greens in the afternoon.

Playing in the morning on Friday, Harrington found the greens much smoother and more receptive and he was able to take advantage.

"I was holing putts that I was missing yesterday," Harrington said. "I still made four birdies like I did yesterday, but I just holed the odd par putts here and there.

"When you are doing that, it makes it much easier to hit shots into the greens. You are so much more accepting of the odd bad shot you hit when you are holing the putts and that was what I did today."

Walk off: After playing 15 holes on Friday, Ian Poulter wished playing partners Luke Donald and Paul Casey well, and then walked off, saying he was withdrawing from the tournament.

Donald said Poulter didn't give them any reason for leaving.

"He just said he was off and he left us," Donald said. "He said goodbye and good luck."

It was later announced that Poulter withdrew due to a wrist injury.

The disruption didn't seem to bother Donald, who finished with his second straight round of even-par 71, leaving him just three strokes out of the lead.

Like several players in the field, Donald has a strong track record at Torrey Pines, one that includes two runner-up finishes at the Buick Invitational. He said since he found out the Open was coming to San Diego, he has been excited.

"Having that familiarity and being able to kind of draw on those good memories is something that has helped me this week," Donald said. "It's a course I feel relatively comfortable in and I think that my golf is showing that."