Mac mauled at day two of the Open
Until yesterday, Rory McIlroy had famously never played a round over 70 in his previous visit to St Andrews. That proud record went for a burton during the second day of the Open Championship, as the 21-year-old carded a woeful eight-over-par in filthy conditions to tumble down the leaderboard to one-under-par for the tournament.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen currently tops the leaderboard on 12-under-par, with veteran US player and 1989 Open champ Mark Calcavecchia in second place on seven-under. Alejandro Canizares, the Korean amateur Jin Jeong, Lee Westwood and Paul Casey are all tied for third place on six-under.
Justin Rose was amongst the players who missed the cut, the well fancied Englishman finishing three-over-par after a second day round of five-over 77. Ernie Els also missed the cut after finishing four-over in total, seven-over on the day.
Others missing the cut included three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, 1997 Open Champion Justin Leonard, and 1999 winner Paul Lawrie. Tim Clark's tournament is over, the South African having carded eight-over-par on Friday, while Tom Watson also ended the Championship prematurely, having finished four-over for the tournament, three-over on the day.
This was Watson's farewell, to St Andrews at least. Watson kissed the famous Swilcan bridge before confirming that "This is not my last Open Championship. I intend to play some more, but it's my last Open Championship at St Andrews."
The second round, delayed by a suspension because of yesterday's high winds, has now been completed, and the players have started the third day's play in conditions only slightly less treacherous than Friday's. Can Oosthuizen hang on, or is Rory going to get his groove back today?
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