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Ewan Murray’s day two reportReaction to all Friday’s actionA few good words from Rory on Tiger Woods, who neglected the cut earlier on the present time.
I’ve gotten most involving terminate to Tiger over these final few years. And notably after the accident, and I mediate we’ve all form of rallied spherical him down there in Jupiter [Florida]. And all of us desire to ticket him enact effectively.
He used to be all our hero growing up, despite the indisputable reality that I’m per chance a contact older than about a of the opposite guys. But we desire to ticket him enact effectively. We desire to ticket him quiet available within the market competing. And this week used to be obviously a tricky week for him. But we’re all within the abet of him. We’re all pulling for him. And confidently he’s abet here within the subsequent four, 5 years and taking part in in another Delivery Championship on The Faded Direction.
Viktor Hovland made a slack switch on Friday however is effectively privy to the vagaries of hyperlinks golf after taking part in 36 holes at St Andrews.
I’m hitting hundreds of astronomical shots. I mediate you’ve gorgeous bought to endure in suggestions that hyperlinks golf isn’t continuously gorgeous. I hit a correct kind force on 12 yesterday, as an illustration, that used to be stymied up within the bunker. You’re form of attempting to hit it in that establish. Any day it could probably presumably per chance presumably also bounce over the bunker and scramble to the side, and it’s good to presumably per chance presumably also make birdie.
You’ve gorgeous bought to hit the shots that you just delight in to hit, whether or not you acquire a unhealthy bounce or not. That’s going to happen, and it’s all about the system you acquire out of that enviornment and switch on.
What enact these bookmakers say as we head into the final 36 holes?
7/4 Cameron Smith
7/2 Rory McIlroy
8/1 Cameron Young
10/1 Viktor Hovland
11/1 Dustin Johnson
12/1 Scottie Scheffler
25/1 Tyrrell Hatton
Precise making the cut is quiet something special in an Delivery at St Andrews. Precise ask Tony Finau, who regarded totally overjoyed to hole a 12-foot birdie putt on the final to predicament into the weekend on even par.
Playing accomplice Will Zalatoris also birdied to entire a 67 and terminate at -4.
Tony Finau on the 18th earlier on the present time. Photograph: Kevin C Cox/Getty ImagesSome words from 2d-positioned Cameron Young. No longer moderately the glint of yesterday’s 64 however a 69 used to be a correct kind solution to abet it up and he’ll play within the final community tomorrow with Cameron Smith.
I didn’t putt as effectively on the present time. I mediate for essentially the most section I managed it most involving effectively. I made a few grasping errors on 2 and on 15 had been my handiest bogeys. Those I mediate had been both very avoidable. I didn’t moderately engage essentially the most involving kind shots. Surely one of them I gorgeous chunked, and one among them I picked the unsuitable shot, which I mediate I could presumably per chance presumably delight in prevented.
My mom and pa are here. So it’s continuously fun having them out. I imply, I mediate gorgeous being the dwelling of golf and being The Delivery Championship is hundreds to make something special. Precise having been spherical golf my entire life it’s something I watched as a toddler, something I grew up looking out to play in at a establish that is special for hundreds of causes.
Rory McIlroy speaks after the Friday 68 that left him tied third at midway.
I mediate it used to be correct kind. It’s the predominant time we’ve viewed the golf direction in a clear wind this week. It switched on us very early on.
I believed I adapted most involving effectively, performed effectively coming in and caught to my sport belief effectively. I’m form of strolling off thinking I would were a couple better however I’m in a astronomical establish going into the weekend. It’s good to be within the combine.
8.51pm BST leaderboardThe midway leaderboard. Just a few groups are quiet available within the market however no-one on the direction is more fit than -3. The cut is decided to be even par.
-13: Smith
-11: Young
-10: McIlroy, Hovland
-9: D Johnson
-8: Scheffler, Hatton
-7 Gooch, Scott, Cantlay, Theegala
It’s a closing birdie for Viktor Hovland. The Norwegian has burst into contention with a bustle of birdie-eagle-par-par-birdie over the final 5 holes. His 6-underneath 66 takes him to 10-underneath and draw a nice day out within the sun with pal Rory McIlroy tomorrow.
Playing accomplice Shane Lowry also produced a slack rally, his pair of closing birdies taking him to -4 despite the indisputable reality that that’s a moderately hefty nine off the lead. He used to be the midway leader when he won at Royal Portrush in 2019.
Leader Cameron Smith presents his suggestions on on the present time’s 64 which secured the midway lead.
Clearly bought off to a really sizzling open. And it’s very straight forward to gorgeous preserve going, getting on the entrance foot and most certainly attempting to hit some shots which would be a minute bit bit too aggressive. But gorgeous stayed patient and holed some truly good putts.
I mediate being off slack all but again tomorrow afternoon it’s obviously going to be moderately firmer, more admire the predominant day, I would say. So I would say it’s going to be most involving brutal available within the market.
I mediate there’s going to be about a more gnarly pins, and I mediate being tremendous available within the market is rarely any doubt going to be the key to staying on the high of the leaderboard.
I mediate it’s gorgeous keen to be leading The Delivery after a few days. I mediate that delight in tomorrow is going to be truly cool. There’s hundreds of Aussies within the crowd, it appears to be like admire. Had hundreds of make stronger the predominant couple of days and truly can’t look forward to the subsequent couple.
Viktor Hovland rolls in a nine-foot par putt at 17. A birdie on the final will ticket him tie McIlroy at -10, which draw the 2 Ryder Cup colleagues will play alongside one another tomorrow. The Norwegian blasts his force at 18 to the hole in entrance of the golf green however for the reason that wind became, no-one has been in a relate to upward thrust up on the high tier. A correct kind chance for birdie from there though.
Rory examines the activity in entrance of him at 18 and decides putter is his handiest weapon of preference. Hmmm. It’s a minute bit frisky and rolls spherical 12 feet past. He’s giving this birdie strive hundreds of attention because the shadows lengthen however… no. It slips by on the left side and that’s a 4-underneath 68. One other stable day leaves him in solo third and three off the lead.
Xander Schauffele taps in for birdie to terminate at -5 however Collin Morikawa’s reign as Delivery champion is formally over. No topic a closing birdie his 73 on the present time and acquire of +1 total won’t be correct kind sufficient.
Rory McIlroy putts on the the 18th. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianHands in pockets, Rory marches up the 18th fairway: a person jubilant with his day’s work. He’s 4-underneath for the spherical and has every chance of adding another birdie which would establish him gorgeous a shot within the abet of leader Cameron Smith. The stands are quiet packed and there’s a large whisper as he comes clearer into ogle.
Viktor Hovland takes an aggressive line over the brink of the lodge at 17 and is rewarded. He’ll be taking part in his 2d from the center of the golf green.
Consideration now turns to the 18th the establish Rory is ready for the golf green to decided. It’s one among the prettiest views in golf, enhanced additional by that splash of yellow otherwise in most cases called the Delivery scoreboard. Rory launches one and his ball collects within the ‘Valley of Sin’ to the entrance, left of the golf green.
Birdie for Rory McIlroy at 17! One in opposition to the high there as he pours in his 20 footer for a ‘3’ on the direction’s hardest hole. A clenched fist from the Northern Irishman.
Viktor Hovland rolls in his par putt at 16 to stay at -9. Right here’s that eagle hole out at 15.
Hovland has by no draw been throughout the high 15 after 36 holes of a main and, barring a calamity, that undesirable story will terminate on the present time. On the 16th, his reach discovered sand however he’s splashed out to a couple feet so desires in teach to preserve at nine underneath.
At 17, McIlroy’s reach is a beaut. He shouts for it to take a seat down and the ball listens, ending about 20 feet away on the upper tier of the golf green.
Shane Lowry has a gleaming card on the present time, the ideal deviations from par crimson birdie numbers at 5, 9, 10 and 12. But he started at even par on the present time so is nine within the abet of leader Cameron Smith. The Irishman has gorgeous discovered a bunker to essentially the most involving form of the 16th green.
Shane Lowry waits on the 11th tee throughout his 2d spherical. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty ImagesMcIlroy hits a toddler proceed off the 17th tee, conserving effectively decided of the lodge on essentially the most involving kind. The ball bounces into light rough down the left and it’s sitting up too.
As for his taking part in partners, Xander Schauffele is gorgeous about inserting on the brink of contention at -5, his hopes improved by an even up and down from a pot bunker at 16. But defending champion Collin Morikawa desires to play the final two holes in two underneath to make the cut.
One other tester for Rory at 16 however this time he knocks his par putt in. Nice, confident stroke on that despite the indisputable reality that McIlroy puffs out his cheeks as he fingers his putter to caddie Harry Diamond. “Rory! Rory!” is the mantra as he walks onto the 17th green. He’s four abet. Can he cut the hole on Cameron Smith to a couple with a par-birdie terminate?
If all the pieces stays the same, Rory will likely be taking part in alongside Dustin Johnson within the penultimate community on Saturday.
Viktor Hovland holes out for eagle!! What a shot from the Norwegian. His angled reach from the left rough on the par-4 15th plonks down on the golf green, takes a few mini hops and disappears into the hole for a 2! That places him within the thick of contention at nine underneath, gorgeous four off the lead.
Rory McIlroy not backing off here and he larrups a mighty force off the 16th tee. That’s taking part in because the fifth hardest hole on the present time, averaging 4.25. The 17th is all over all but again the hardest at 4.38 so McIlroy will likely be more than pleased to head par-par at this pair of trappy par 4s.
Photograph: Andrew Boyers/ReutersDespite being world No 9 Viktor Hovland is ranked 204th out of 204 within the PGA Tour’s Strokes Won: Around The Green charts. It’s presumably that blunt quick sport that has stopped him managing a single high 10 within the majors to this level.
But he shows a fine contact spherical the 14th green with a cozy chip over a mound and holes the putt to return to -7.
Rory’s bogey draw the final community out tomorrow will almost completely be Cameron Smith and Cameron Young. If that’s not the predominant time two Camerons were in this sort of establish in a main, I’ll eat Barclay Brown’s hat.
From the rough, McIlroy gets a flier. He’s on the golf green however about 100 feet away. Time to lean on that stable plug inserting all but again. He presents it a sexy extinct whack with his first strive to head away four feet for par however then shoves putt two to essentially the most involving kind. Bogey. Again to nine underneath.
Will Zalatoris, a two-time runner-up within the majors this one year, regarded to be heading dwelling after slipping to +2 with an opening bogey however he’s performed his subsequent 12 holes in six underneath to haul himself up to tied 24th.
Rory McIlroy can’t upward thrust up and down from an admittedly tricky establish in entrance of the 14th green. Precise a par then and he stays three within the abet of leader Cameron Smith. At 15, out comes Rory’s correct kind arm to indicate a leaked force. It’s into the rough stuff however a volunteer quick locates McIlroy’s errant ball. Confidently a tight lie from there.
Lee Westwood gets abet into the high 20 with a uncommon birdie on the 17th, the Englishman rolling one up and down from off the golf green to head to 5 underneath.
As Matt says farewell, so enact the winners of the final 5 Opens at St Andrews. The cut is hovering between even par and -1.
+1 Louis Oosthuizen (2010)
+3 John Daly (1995)
+3 Zach Johnson (2015)
+9 Tiger Woods (2000 and 2005)
Though I’m disappointed to be heading dwelling, I had a sexy week at St Andrews celebrating 150 years of history and the sport we fancy. I desire to thank this establish for the total memories it has given me, and to the followers on the present time for having the hunch up 18 be added to that record. pic.twitter.com/VHD93MfeSl
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) July 15, 2022
7.15pm BST leaderboardRory McIlroy is gorgeous quick of the par-5 14th with his reach. And with that, I scramble away you with Dave for the leisure of on the present time’s action.
-13: Smith (F)
-11: Young (F)
-10: McIlroy (13)
-9: Johnson (F)
-8: Scheffler (F), Hatton (F)
Jean-Marc emails about our pal Barclay Brown: “That’s a Stanford College hat isn’t it?” Properly spotted Jean-Marc. Brainy Barclay Brown goes to California.
Can Cameron Smith convert the capture on the weekend? His taking part in accomplice via the predominant two rounds, Eire’s Seamus Vitality, thinks so. A correct kind midway describe from him here:
I could presumably per chance presumably ticket him winning, very noteworthy so. That’s essentially the most impressive two rounds of inserting I’ve viewed. I don’t know what his photographs would were on the present time. It used to be unbelievable.
He’s as correct kind with a wedge and a putter as I’ve viewed. Worship, he used to be very impressive.
Cameron Young signs for a 69. The American has misplaced his pre-spherical lead, however a birdie on the 18th gets him internal two of Cameron Smith and one decided of Rory McIlroy.
Silver Medal change: Our buddy Barclay Brown leads the amateurs at midway on six underneath, Italy Filippo Celli is three underneath, Brown’s England crew-mate Sam Bairstow and Aaron Jarvis from the Cayman Islands are level par. Japan’s Keita Nakajima and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter delight in neglected the cut.
Irishman David Carey is having the week of his life. He as soon as carded a 57 on the third tier Alps Tour however has struggled to claim himself within the unswerving ranks. But a 67 on the present time has left him 5 underneath for the week and a occupation-changing weekend is dangling in entrance of him. He told the Irish media that taking part in in entrance of mountainous crowds doesn’t faze him:
I’m a entire state their very hold praises. The more these who’s there, the upper. It’s astronomical. I’ve continuously loved having of us spherical, the more of us the upper.
One other birdie for Rory McIlroy, a third in a row. His eagle putt is nicely paced and leaves him with a faucet-in on the 12th. He’s four underneath for the spherical and joins Cameron Young at 10 underneath for the week in 2d. Beautiful concentration after a protracted wait due to the taking part in accomplice Xander Schauffele used to be tangled up in gorse.
Rory McIlroy is taking a gaze stable as he moves to -10. Photograph: Oisin Keniry/R&A/Getty ImagesIt appears to be like rather discover to please in interaction that Cameron Smith will likely be the midway leader. Rory McIlroy would want a extraordinary final six holes to commerce that. So what is the Aussie’s story in this sort of establish? He’s had three solo 36-hole advantages and he won the predominant two, including this one year’s Match of Champions. But his most most modern expertise used to be moderately humbling: he carded weekend rounds of 72-77 to terminate tied 13th in June’s Memorial Match.
Cameron Smith did drop a most involving mountainous hint about his potentialities this week. Right here’s what he told the media on Wednesday:
I mediate I’ve performed the ideal golf of my life this one year, for certain. I delight in the golf direction. It could probably probably presumably per chance presumably be awesome to capture an Delivery here for certain. I mediate it’s all people’s dream growing up to capture an Delivery at St Andrews.
So, don’t desire to jinx myself, however I’m feeling most involving correct kind.
An improbable card for the leader. One draw web site web site visitors.
6.27pm BST leaderboardCameron Smith completes his bogey-free 2d lap, Viktor Hovland sneaks into contention and Rory McIlroy has discovered the inserting surface of the par-four 12th in a single blow. He used to be inches from discovering essentially the most involving kind level of the golf green, too, however it’s a astronomical opportunity to eat into Smith’s advantage earlier than the abet nine gets a minute bit tricky.
-13: Smith (F)
-10: Young (16)
-9: Johnson (F), McIlroy (11)
-8: Scheffler (F), Hatton (F), Hovland (10)
Again-to-abet birdies for Rory McIlroy. He hits another majestic tee shot, this time on the par-three 11th, and he takes advantage with a audacious birdie putt from 20 feet. He’s up to nine underneath and tied for third with Dustin Johnson.
Unbelievable from Cameron Smith on the Highway Gap. He could presumably per chance presumably handiest force his reach shot from the rough quick of the golf green and, after electing to make utilize of putter, he left himself nine feet for par. No bother. For the 2d hole in succession, he used to be as certain with the par saver as he has been with par breakers. Nothing like from the 18th tee – he bunts it down the golf green with an iron.
The most involving kind news? Rory McIlroy is now eight underneath for the week and tied fourth. The unhealthy news? It could probably probably presumably per chance presumably were a contact better, his eagle putt on the 10th dribbling off to essentially the most involving kind.
At final! Shane Lowry has been unbelievable tee to green via 27 holes, however has struggled with the putter. A most involving instance? The par-5 fifth the establish he launched two most involving blows terminate and hit a wicked eagle putt. But he drains a birdie from 25 feet on the ninth and celebrates with a contact of irony. He’s two underneath for the week.
Rory McIlroy used to be errant with his driver on how one can a par-four on the ninth. But he responds current on the 10th tee, launching a majestic blow that has left him with a 20 foot putt for eagle. A mountainous 2d growing.
Rock stable from the leader. Cameron Smith’s birdie putt rattles six feet past the hole, however he has no trouble saving par. He follows it with a force on the 17th which is trigger off on a extremely conservative line and also appears to be like to relax within the rough.
Cameron Smith traces up a putt. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images5.53pm BST leaderboardRory McIlroy had a putt on the ninth to hitch Tyrrell Hatton and Scottie Scheffler in a section of fourth, however it slipped by and he remains gorgeous out of doors the high 5.
-13: Smith (15)
-11: Young (14)
-9: Johnson (F)
-8: Hatton (F), Scheffler (F)
Birdie for Cameron Young on the 14th. The American used to be a minute bit untidy with his chip on the par-5, however he transformed from 10 feet to acquire to 11 underneath for the week, two within the abet of the leader. Jonathan Salisbury emails: “He could presumably per chance presumably also be the nicest man within the sphere however can’t stand the system Cam Young by no draw acknowledges the crowd, whether or not hitting eagle or par, not even on the high of the spherical.”
First bogey of the day for Rory McIlroy. TV cameras terminate in on the ball for his quick-vary par effort and it’s decided that it’s off-line straight away. A mildly irritated swish of the putter from the Northern Irishman in response.
Honest correct-making an try reaction from Cameron Smith’s taking part in partners when his mountainous eagle putt dropped on the 14th gorgeous now.
Stuart Wilson is enthusiastic the controversy of Tiger’s retirement is untimely and provides in his electronic mail: “Anyway, backbone-tingling, emotional stuff watching Tiger hunch the 18th on TV on the present time. I used to be with my dad, peering on the 18th green from out of doors the Tom Morris Golf Shop (technically out of doors the grounds!) in 2000 when he holed his final putt to entire a occupation Colossal Slam; watched from the grandstands as he holed his winning putts in 2005 & 2006; and felt the crowd energy reach another level at Carnoustie in 2018 when he briefly led on the entrance-nine on Sunday. There’s been no-one else remotely as correct kind as Tiger within the final 30 years – let’s hope he retains going for one final 2d of trip-up-the-script glory.”
Cameron Smith holes a sweeping long-vary eagle putt on the 14th. He’s 13 underneath for the championship and three decided of Cameron Young. Ewan Murray sneaks over, sings about a random songs in my ear about Tommy Fleetwood, and suggests Smith tends to throw in about a doubles. The realm could presumably per chance presumably also be hoping Ewan is correct kind.
Birdie for Rory McIlroy on the Seventh. It’s the predominant of the six hole establish-of-eight loop on the some distance terminate of the direction. It involves some danger however also hundreds birdie (and eagle) opportunities. A key stretch and that’s essentially the most involving open.
Rory wanted that. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PAThanks Dave. Jeremy Boyce has joined us within the Barclay Brown Fan Membership and emails: “No longer certain that he ever performed reverse Terry Thomas. But it completely appears to be like to me he very from time to time seemed as Margaret Rutherford’s Detective Sergeant within the Marple films and with Alastair Sim and George Cole within the St Trinians films. It appears to be like that’s what it’s good to presumably per chance presumably like at St Andrews this week, forensic Marple diagnosis and Sim/Cole slippery-trickery.”
Norway’s Viktor Hovland makes his 2d straight birdie, this one at six, and climbs to -6.
Facially, Hovland by hook or by crook strikes a chord in my memory of any individual you’d ticket on an extinct baseball card if flicking via a e book of Yankees legends from the 1930s.
Anyway, on that moderately weird and wonderful comment, I’ll hand abet to Matt.
Viktor Hovland, Shortstop for the 1937 Yankees’ World Collection capture. And golfer. Photograph: David Cannon/Getty ImagesKurt Perleberg emails this: “What introduced on the decline of Tiger Woods?”
It’s a truly easy however profound poser. A future ‘A’ Level history ask per chance. E mail in (1000-1500 words please) and I’ll ticket them later Don’t. I won’t.
Cameron Young devices up correct kind birdie potentialities at 10 and 11 however can’t acquire the white spherical thing to fall into the minute hole. They had been losing yesterday however a minute bit of the magic has left him on the present time.
Amassed, taking part within the predominant 11 holes in 2 underneath is a more than acceptable solution to divulge up his opening 64 – quiet the lowest spherical of the week. He remains in solo 2d and one within the abet of Cameron Smith.
That’s the system Rory! An magnificent birdie putt at 5 and he makes his first switch up the leaderboard. Now -7 and 4 within the abet of Smith.
And another birdie for Barclay Brown, who has a nice contact of bound about him as he drains his putt at 16 to put -5 (tied 13th). A reminder that an amateur, Eire’s Paul Dunne, used to be tied for the 54-hole lead within the 2015 Delivery at St Andrews.