20 August 2021: The wind and rain continued to stay clear of the Carnoustie Golf Club, leaving the defense of the course to the famous pot bunkers, the fescue and tricky pins. Georgia Hall answered most of those questions well, except at the 15th where she suffered a double bogey. Even then the six birdies on her card were enough to secure a 69 and a share of the lead with Mina Harigae. The two women are tied at 7-under, after the American produced a scintillating 67 with seven birdies. Aditi Ashok started the day with a serene run of five straight pars, before taking one off the course at the par-5 sixth hole.
Even though a bogey at the seventh snatched the gain off her card immediately, Aditi kept her head down, grinding away for another run of five pars. Bogeys at 13 & 16 threatened to derail her, but she showed grim determination, eking out a couple of pars on either side to reach the clubhouse with a 74 on her card.
At 1-over Aditi is just above the projected cut line, as a bunch of golfers still remained out, fighting their own battles against a course that was beginning to gain teeth.
Hall won the Women’s Open in 2018 and is fairly comfortable with links golf. The 25-year-old Englishwoman had the lead comfortably to herself before the double at 15 cost her the luxury. Hall did well from there to come home on three pars to ensure no further damage to her card.
“I thought I played better than yesterday, a bit more consistent,” she said.
“The pins were a little bit harder today, more tucked behind bunkers, so I’m very happy with how I’ve done.
“A double bogey with the three hardest holes to play is not ideal! I tried to stay as patient as possible, hit a good shot off 16 and managed to par my way in, so I was happy with that.”
Hall was happy put herself in contention, knowing that she might be better prepared when the weather turns worse as predicted later this week. She grew up on the coast of Bournemouth and believes that she has the tools to produce some steady golf when the wind starts blowing at Carnoustie, potentially on Saturday.
“There’s still not a lot of wind but I’ve heard it’s supposed to blow a lot tomorrow,” she added.
“It will be a good test of golf. A lot of the Americans and other players, they don’t play in the wind quite as much but at the same time they are extremely good golfers.
“I’m very confident, it’s really nice to be in this position and I feel I’m playing well. I’ll try and put two more good rounds in and see where I end up.”
In an impressive turnaround, Meghan Khang, playing alongside Hall and amateur Louise Duncan, shot the low round so far to force her way inside the weekend numbers. Khang shot 66 to secure herself firmly at 3-under through 36 holes. The cut was expected to fall at 1-over, but the number could change based on how the late starters perform in the evening.
Duncan impressed the world with a steady 68 in the opening round. But she did just enough to limit the damage, taking a 74, enough to reach the weekend with Khang at 3-under 141.
Hall was impressed with what she saw from the 21-year-old, having played together in the first two rounds.
“I think she’s a lot like me,” offered Hall, complimenting the young Scot. “Quite quiet, just lets her golf do the talking.
“She’s a very natural golfer. She just goes up and hits it which I think is a lot like me, too. She’s an amazing talent and it was really nice to play with her.”
