July 15, 2016: Halfway through the Open Championships, after a couple of engaging rounds that treated and tested in equal measure. Phil Mickelson threatened to run away with a sensational 63 in the first round but Henrik Stenson responded with a priceless 65 on Friday to set up a thrilling weekend.
The ten observations below should help you catch up with all the essentials from the first two rounds of the 145th Open
1. Anirban Lahiri has shown characteristic resilience to give himself a good chance for a big finish over the weekend. But for a cold putter and his struggles on the green, he might have been inside the top 10. As it is, he is lying T22 at 1-under 141.
2. Special rounds are a hard act to follow. Mickelson was just millimetres from producing the first ever 62 at a major on Thursday. In the second round though the weather and the pins kept the American under control, drawing him back to a 69.
3. Jordan Spieth has struggled to find his A game. After an even 71 on Thursday, he waged a grim battle on Friday before squeezing into the weekend through the back door. He is right on the cut line at 4-over 146.
4. The gang that runs the game now has failed to take control, at least in the early stages. Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler are all outside the top 10, at least eight shots off the pace. It will take a mighty effort from there to contend on Sunday.
5. Justin Thomas has seen his fortunes swing wildly. He was lying T4 after a 67 on Thursday, but the young golfer misfired badly in the second round. Justin slipped 46 spots with a miserable 77 in the second round.
6. Soomin Lee and Justin Rose are united too in a similar state of pain, as that of Thomas. The two men shot similar scores of 68-77 in the two rounds so far, slipping to an overall score of 3-over 147, barely making the weekend from a position of strength.
7. There were fifteen men tied in 67th, lying right on the cut line at 4-over 148. That group included Green jacket owners Danny Willett (71-75) and Bubba Watson (70-76).
8. Ernie Els travails continue – he fell just below the line posting scores of 71 and 76. Vijay Singh joined him on the flight out with a ten shot swing to the wrong side, 69 and 79. Shugo Imihara was 3-under on Thursday. But the Japanese dissolved into an 80 yesterday to slip out from the Open.
9. Shane Lowry did everything he could to rescue himself from a first round 78, but an even 71 on Friday was just not enough.
10. Billy Horschel suffered an eighteen-stroke swing. He was well in contention after a 67 in the first round. But three double bogeys, a triple and five bogeys sank him to a 14-over 85 on Friday. It must have been painful just to watch that round of golf.
P.S. A hole in the one on the 14th hole on Thursday remained the only highlight of the week for Louis Oosthuizen. Scores of 71 and 83 left him reeling at 12-over 154.
