Charl Schwartzel gets into contention at The Open Championship – Golf News
Charl Schwartzel of South Africa is hoping to mount a title charge at The Open Championship, as he enters the weekend trailing the leader Miguel Angel Jimenez by four strokes, courtesy of a three-under par 68 on day two.
Entering the second round, the former Masters champion was holding a four-over par score, which he reduced to one-over after carding four birdies against just one bogey.
Considering the difficult playing conditions at the Muirfield Golf Club, he got off to a brilliant start and birdied three of the first nine holes that he played.
He then parred each of the next four holes before gaining another shot on the 14th hole, which he lost a couple of holes later on the 16th. Yet, it did not disappoint him, as he was pleased to get into contention
for his second major title victory.
Talking to the reporters after completing his round, he said that the change in his putter before the start of the tournament greatly helped him in playing well on the course.
According to him, the new putter is similar to the one he was using before. However, the only difference is the increase in weight and long grip of the new putter.
"I changed the putter and it really gave me some confidence," the South African said. "It's the same (style of) putter but with one of those long grips, a bit more weight. And it made quite a bit of a difference."
"You don't know what's going to happen and you need to be able to play like we played this morning. That way, you can still control your golf ball and quality shots get rewarded. (But) if I win, I'll be kissing this golf course,”
he added.
Tiger Woods, who has been brilliant so far this season winning four PGA Tour events and regaining the top spot in world rankings, was also in contention for the top spot, after carding an even-par score and trailing the leader
by just one shot.
Woods now hopes to remain consistent in the remaining two rounds, in a bid to secure the 15th major title victory of his career.
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