American surge in the second round of Open Championship – Part 2
Lehman is one of the most senior Americans participating in the event alongside Tom Watson and Mark Calcavecchia.
Jeff Overton and Ryan Palmer are further down the leaderboard with their aggregate scores of one-under, each. The duo played well in the opening round, carding scores of 68 each but fell for disappointing second-round scores of 71 each.
Phil Mickelson, one of the highest ranked American player, has played well for the last two days, staying in contention for the joint 14th alongside his country mates Overton and Palmer. Mickelson, who is reportedly following a new strategy to
tackle the difficult Links course, carded rounds of 70 and 69 and seems to be satisfied with his performance in the event.
“I just wanted to start fresh because I've loved links golf. I just had to really enjoy the challenge of it more. I've always loved the different shots that are required and the strategy about how the courses are designed with the bunker placements. I wanted
to have kind of a fresh start,” said Mickelson.
Rickie Fowler, the 22-year-old American heartthrob is tied for joint 19th with his buddy, the US Open winner, Rory McIlroy. Fowler opened up his front nine on the second day to fell in for consecutive bogeys. As a result, the player reverted back
to defensive putting to avoid any in the back nine. He remained even-par in both rounds and has managed to survive the cut despite of a lackluster form he has been battering this season.
“Well, it's obviously a wide-open tournament. It's pretty tightly packed, and for the most part you make the cut and you're going to have a chance. Just go out and play well this weekend,” said Fowler.
Webb Simpson, who had earlier opened up the event with a dazzling 66, dropped down the leaderboard to a joint 19th after his sloppy hitting in the second round, carding a four-over, 74.
Steve Stricker, the top ranking US golfer in the tournament also had a disappointing second round of 71 and is now currently sharing the 19th place along with five other American players including Kyle Stanley, Anthony Kim and Zach Johnson.
Long-hitting Bubba Watson is tied for the 32nd spot along with Stewart Cink, Spencer Levin and Charles Howell lll. Top ranking amateur player Peter Uihlein also made the cut for the first time in his career and is now tied for the 45thspot
alongside grizzled veteran Tom Watson who has won the Open for a staggering five times.
Other US players tied for the 45th include Harrison Frazar, Mark Wilson, Jim Furyk, Ricky Barnes, Bo Van Pelt, and Bill Haas. Gary Woodland and Ryan Moore are the lowest scoring Americans with their aggregate scores of three-over but still survived
the cut by one shot.
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