St Andrews, UK: American Dustin Johnson, chasing his first major title, went two shots clear of the field at 11 under at the Open Championship yesterday after picking up four birdies through 10 holes.
The 31-year-old from South Carolina, had an eagle putt to win the US Open in June before three-putting on the final green, but is well on course to break his Grand Slam duck at St Andrews.
Clubhouse leader Danny Willett, striving to become the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 1992 to win the Open, is now two shots back with charging South African Charl Schwartzel on eight under after four birdies through 11 holes.
Six players are on seven under including Scotland’s Marc Warren, Aussie former world number one Adam Scott and American Zach Johnson, who are all in the clubhouse, while South African Retief Goosen, Luke Donald of England, 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie and Jason Day of Australia are still out on the course.
Spieth, seeking history with what would be his third straight major to open the season, was misfiring with the putter but picked up a much needed birdie at nine to stay within four of Johnson on six under.
The day’s play was delayed for over three hours in the morning when torrential rain and high winds left the Old Course unplayable before groundsmen did a miraculous job to get the second round underway.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods looked to be heading out of the door at St Andrews yesterday, facing back-to-back missed cuts in majors for the first time in his career.
The former world number one, mired in the worst slump of his pro career, on Thursday carded a four over 76 in the British Open first round. It was the worst first round he had posted in a major and with the scoring low, it left him with a mountain to climb to make it through to the weekend.
After six holes of his second round, he was moving in the wrong direction and stood at six over with the cut projected to fall at even par. He was tied for 140th position out of 156 starters. AFP
