Casey makes his case at St Andrews
Paul Casey was solid if unspectacular during the first round of the Open Championship yesterday, the Englishman coming home three under after five birdies and two bogeys. But Casey started in blistering form at St Andrews today, five birdies coming in his first eight holes.
Since then the 32-year-old has slowed, failing to add to that haul after 13 holes. But Casey's five-under for the day is still enough to see him take third place on the overall leaderboard, a stroke behind Rory McIlroy, who tees off later this afternoon.
As the rain has died away, those famous Scottish winds have picked up some speed, which perhaps goes some way to explaining a disappointing round from Lee Westwood. The Englishman was five-under yesterday, but thus far he's only been able to make a solitary birdie back on the 5th after 14 holes. That's still enough to see Westwood tied for sixth place on six-under for the tournament.
And what of Phil Mickelson? The Californian finished one-over-par yesterday on a frustrating round for the world No. 2, but Mickelson has fought back in gutsy fashion, with two birdies and an eagle on the 5th - and then two bogeys leaving him two-under for the day, one-under in total.
Germany's Martin Kaymer got off to a decent if less than dynamic start yesterday, with three birdies on an error-free round. But the world No. 13 has already made a misstep today, with two birdies and a bogey on the 8th after the front nine putting him four-under for the Championship.
Tom Lehman won the Open at St Annes in 1996 and he was firing well today, the American completing a flaw-free second round with four birdies to put together a round of 68. That leaves Lehman five-under in all.
Retief Goosen is another major winner, though never at the Open. He was fifth last year though, as well as in 2005, and the South African has so far put in a decent couple of shifts - he was three under yesterday, and today he carded three birdies on the front nine before dropping a shot on the 11th to stand two-under on the day, five-under in all.
Former world No. 1 Vijay Singh finished with a birdie on the 18th, but this back nine won't have provided many pleasant memories for the Fijian after he carded four bogeys in six holes, after a couple of birdies on the front nine had seen him start so promisingly. One-over on the day, Singh is still three-under for the tournament.
With many of the leading lights not out until later today, some of the lesser known players bear closer inspection. Ireland's Shane Lowry was four-under-par yesterday, but he was off the boil today, finishing his second round a stroke over-par thanks in part to a double bogey on the 2nd. That leaves Lowry three-under for the tournament.
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