Major heavyweights lurk with intent

GOLF: The out-and-back nature of Royal Troon is all about equity, or it should be. Sometimes players get the breaks, other times they don't. Mainly, though, it evens itself up.

Yesterday, as the 133rd British Open reached its midway point, the leaderboard was a confusing mixture: top-heavy with those who have never won a major, yet with so many major champions of recent times lurking in close proximity to the lead, held by American Skip Kendall.

Indeed, when the last of the 156 cards were handed in to the recorder's cabin, Kendall, who shot a 66 for seven-under-par 135, had a one-shot lead over Frenchman Thomas Levet on which to sleep. No doubt occupying his mind was the fact all of the top-seven ranked players in the world, were skulking with intent and all under-par.

Sadly, the eighth-ranked player, Padraig Harrington, was not among them, the biggest casualty of a cut that fell on three-over-par 145.

Not surprisingly, Harrington was extremely disappointed at missing the cut, his first in a major since last year's US Masters and his first at the British Open since 1998. But he revealed his homeward journey in a final round 71 for 147, two outside the mark, was hindered by the recurrence of his old neck injury.

"It clicked on the 10th hole, after I hit a three-wood, and I didn't seem to hit a shot after that. I struggled all the way home. I was basically just swinging with my hands and arms and not coiling, there was no resistance at the top of my swing. It led to a lot of erratic shots," said Harrington, who bogeyed his closing two holes to miss out.

However, there's no question of Harrington missing next week's Irish Open at Baltray, and he added: "Poor performances like these tend to give you a kick up the backside and what I need to do is to come back pretty quick. It motivates you. I've had a good year so far and need to get back on track."

Overall, it was a poor day for the Irish. By day's end, only two of the six - Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley - had survived the cut. Clarke bogeyed two of his last three holes for a 72 to lie on 141, but McGinley suffered a disastrous run of bogey-double bogey-double bogey from the 10th and finished with a 76 for 145.

"One minute I'm looking at the leaderboard and the next I'm looking at the cut line," said McGinley. "Troon bit me, basically. Those holes were a real body blow, I'm gutted. I didn't produce the numbers."

In professional golf, producing the numbers is what the game is all about. Nobody did it so as well as Kendall - competing in just his third Open - who has struggled to establish himself on the full US Tour in a career that seems to see him alternate between the main tour and the secondary Nationwide Tour. Last year, he even sliced off a portion off his finger while cutting a frozen bagel.

This year, he has missed eight cuts but also showed he can play a bit too, finishing runner-up in the Bob Hope Classic and securing a top-five in the Colonial. If his failure to win on the US Tour would seem to be a mitigating factor in seeing Kendall finish the job here, the player doesn't agree.

"Let's just say this: I feel like I've been very close to winning. I've lost in a bunch of play-offs and really feel I can win on tour, as well as any place else. It's just a matter of time, and hopefully this will be mine."

Going into the final two days, his closest pursuer is someone who didn't even have a place in the Open a week ago. Levet secured his spot by winning the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond on Sunday. But two years ago he showed his liking for links golf by reaching the four-man play-off for the British Open at Muirfield, which was won by Ernie Els.

Yesterday, Levet was the subject of a possible two-shot penalty on the first when his drive finished behind temporary barriers, which were then removed by marshals. No penalty was imposed because there was no intent on the player to move the barriers.

Some big moves were made, not least by Phil Mickelson, the US Masters champion, who returned a 66 for 139 - putting him in tied-10th - while Tiger Woods had a 71 to be positioned on 141. "I love my position," insisted Woods. "I'm right in with a chance going into the weekend, and that's where I want to be."

He wasn't the only heavyweight to be lurking with intent. Vijay Singh shot a 70 for 138 - "I don't know if I'm owed a British Open, but I know I have to go out there and grab it," said the Fijian - and Retief Goosen, winner of the US Open and the European Open in his last two events, also added a 70 to lie on 139. "I don't consider myself a great wind player but, I don't know, in a way I feel I can get it around this type of golf course," insisted Goosen.

Likewise, Els, his fellow South African, with back-to-back 69s reaffirmed his desire to take a second British Open title. "I'd love to make some more putts," insisted Els, "but we've put ourselves in to contention. Let's see what happens."

If emotion had any part to play in the destination of the title, Colin Montgomerie would win hands down. The Scot tagged on a second 69 to his opening round. "I know this course better than anyone, and I'm in a good position for the weekend."

The problem for Monty is so many of the field believe they have realistic chances of winning. And they're right. It's wide open.

Leaderboard

7 under - Skip Kendall (US)

6 under - Thomas Levet (Fra)

5 under - KJ Choi (Kor)

Barry Lane

4 under - Michael Campbell (NZ)

Todd Hamilton (US)

Vijay Singh (Fij)

Ernie Els (Rsa)

Colin Montgomerie

3 under - Retief Goosen (Rsa)

Kenny Perry (USA)

Mike Weir (Can)

Phil Mickelson

Scott Verplank (US)