| Choi takes the lead at Royal Birkdale | Friday 7/18, 6:05 PM CT |
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K.J. Choi hit the links at Royal Birkdale for Round 2 at the Open Championship and surged to the top of the field, shooting -3 (67) on the day to enter the weekend in first place.
Our View: Choi shot 72 on Thursday to stay near the top and enjoyed much more favorable conditions today to make a move. Holding on to the lead over the next two days, especially considering the players in striking distance, will be a challenge, but it appears Choi is ready to make that charge. |
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| Norman having fun at Open Championship | Friday 7/18, 6:04 PM CT |
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Greg Norman posted his second consecutive 70 last night to stay at even par after two days of competition at the Open Championship in Merseyside, England.
Our View: Norman hasn't been a factor for years on the Tour, touting just one cut made in four starts this season. Now he sits in contention for a major title entering the weekend. |
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| Villegas tops Friday at Open Championship | Friday 7/18, 6:02 PM CT |
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Camilo Villegas enjoyed the best day of the field at Day 2 of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in England, posting a -5 (65) on the day to move to +1 overall for the tourney, three strokes back of the lead held by K.J. Choi.
Our View: Villegas has been a bit hit-or-miss this season, bu the came raging towards this major with solid play over his more recent starts. We will see if the young South American can hold on for the journey into the weekend, seeking his first PGA win of the season and the first major title of his career. |
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| Duval, others follow close for lead at Open Championship | Friday 7/18, 6:01 PM CT |
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A sizeable group of golfers now stand at +2 (142), in position to make a push for a win, after two days of competition at the Open Championship in England, including Jim Furyk, Robert Allenby, Padraig Harrington, Rocco Mediate, Alexander Noren, Graeme McDowell, and noneother than David Duval .
Our View: Furyk was our top pick for the week and he sits in position to make a charge over the weekend. Allenby is also a player to watch, having finished near the top of the final leaderboard at this course in 1998. Harrington is the defending champion, Mediate is the fan favorite (enjoying his second consecutive surge at a major this season, this time without Tiger standing in his way), and McDowell is one of the hottest hands coming off the Euro Tour. However, no one could have foreseen Duval making this charge. The former top-ranked player has fallen into the shadows of the Tour, making just two cuts in 13 starts this season. He was once a regular on final major leaderboards in the past, but his performance at the Open thus far is nothing short of astounding. Now we'll see if he can keep it going over the weekend and make a huge step towards getting his career back on track. |
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| Goosen takes slide in Day 2 at Royal Birkdale | Friday 7/18, 5:59 PM CT |
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Coming out of Day 1 as the man to chase, Retief Goosen found struggles on the links of Royal Birkdale today, posting a disappointing +5 (75) to fall from 1st to T27 on the major leaderboard heading into the weekend.
Our View: Goosen has a proven record of success at the Open Championship, but this course gave him fits back in 1998. He has already suffered a sizeable fall from the top opening round, but he faces the weekend with the skill needed to get back in the mix. |
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| Jimenez falls off the pace at Open Championship | Friday 7/18, 5:59 PM CT |
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Miguel Angel Jimenez suffered through a miserable day on the course at this season's Open Championship, shooting +12 (82) on the day following a strong round of 72 on Thursday.
Our View: Jimenez was listed as one of our favorites to compete for the title, currently sitting atop the European Tour Honor of Merit with a run of outstanding performances at majors. Now it appears he'll be done before reaching the weekend. |
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| Westwood, others make Open cut on the number | Friday 7/18, 5:57 PM CT |
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With the weekend cut coming in at +9 after two days of competition, more than a few of the top names in golf found luck on their side, making it on the number to earn a spot in weekend play. That list includes Davis Love III, Ernie Els, Andres Romero, Nick O'Hern, Paul Casey, and local favorite Lee Westwood .
Our View: Many of us who follow the game for commentary had picked Westwood as a favorite to battle for the title, touting a hot hand coming in noteworthy performances in top tourney during this season. Instead, Westwood struggled, shooting 75 on Thursday and 74 on Friday to make the cut on the number. He has time to get back in the hunt, but it will take a monumental effort. |
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| Top names miss the cut at Royal Birkdale | Friday 7/18, 5:56 PM CT |
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After two days of play at this year's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the cut to earn entry into weekend rounds has been set at +9 (149), leaving several noteworthy names out of the hunt. That list included Stewart Cink (150), Alex Cejka (150), Pat Perez (150), Tom Watson (150), Aaron Baddeley (150), Charles Howell III (151), Ryuji Imada (151), Brandt Snedeker (151), Geoff Ogilvy (151), Oliver Wilson (151), Vijay Singh (151), Niclas Fasth (152), Hunter Mahan (152), Tim Clark (153), Boo Weekley (153), Angel Cabrera (154), Rory Sabbatini, (154) Miguel Angel Jimenez (154), Rod Pampling (154), Jeff Quinney (154), JB Holmes (156), Jerry Kelly (160), and the great John Daly (169).
Our View: The season of woe continues for Daly, entertaining the press this week with further tyraids against former coach Butch Harmon only to hit the links at the one major he has enjoyed the most in the past and shoot 89 on Friday. Watching Cink and Singh fall short may shock the most, both touting strong records at the links courses of Europe with reliable outings at the first two majors of the season. |
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