open day two wrap up
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On a sizzling summer’s day in Kent the golf at The Open rarely reached boiling point.
It was a day of jostling for position and a test of who could keep their cool. There was a certain Northern Irishman who did just that to sit atop the leaderboard. But it wasn’t the pre-tournaments favourites of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, but the battle-worn Darren Clarke who coped best with the dry yet windy conditions.
He shot a very solid 68 for the second day in a row at Royal St George’s and shares the lead with American Lucas Glover.
German Martin Kaymer is returning to form and came in at three under to remind the two players ahead of him in the world rankings – Luke Donald and Lee Westwood – that he hasn’t given up the fight for the top spot just yet.
Donald and Westwood both struggled while the Americans showed signs of life! Phil Mickelson huffed and puffed his way round in 69 to sit just three shots off the lead at the halfway stage. And Chad Campbell headed for the clubhouse just one shot off the lead at three under.
The Spanish contingent also fared well with Miguel Jimenez joining Campbell at three under and Sergio Garcia managed a 70 to sit just four shots off the lead. At one point he was two under for the tournament and just a couple off the lead but he couldn’t keep it going.
Rory McIlroy drew huge crowds as he attempted to improve on his opening round of 71 – one over. And he did… just! His one under par takes him to level par for the championship, but that’s only four shots off the lead with two rounds remaining. Do, despite, not really firing on all-four cylinders yet, Rory could still taste glory come Sunday afternoon.
The leaderboard is very ciongested and it could come down to whp can forget about the sunshine and battle through the wind and rain predicted for the weekend.
