GOLF THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP:THE WINDS of time blew in many directions over the dunes here at Sandwich yesterday, as the 140th edition of the British Open sought to find some order from old-timers and young wannabes. It didn't. But, as the dust finally settled at the midpoint of golf's oldest major, the egalitarian nature of this championship remained intact. As Rory McIlroy put it: "It's the most open Open I've seen in a long time." Nobody could argue.
Indeed, as the championship headed into the business end of deciding the latest recipient of the famed Claret Jug, there was a motley lot of potential winners. They ranged from tour veterans – among them Darren Clarke, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Bjorn – who have sought in vain for decades to lift a major to former major champions – like Tom Lehman, Chad Campbell and Davis Love III – proving their longevity at the tail-end of careers.
And, perhaps most ominously of all, they contained a new breed of major winners: Martin Kaymer, Lucas Glover and Charl Schwartzel . . . and, also very much in the thick of it, a certain Rory McIlroy, who has manoeuvred his way into a chasing position rather than the front-running role he has held at this stage in this season’s two previous majors, the US Masters and the US Open.
On a fine, sunny day – with just a gentle breeze to cause an occasional second thought on club selection – the main protection to the links was provided by some awkward pin placements. Still, the day ended with Clarke and 2009 US Open champion Glover sharing the top position, on four-under-par 136, with the quartet of Campbell, Kaymer, Bjorn and Jimenez just one stroke adrift.
Inevitability, there were some significant casualties when the cut mark fell on 143, three over. Both the world numbers one and two – Luke Donald and Lee Westwood respectively – fell by the wayside before their challenge ever got going, while Pádraig Harrington, missing his sixth cut in the last 11 majors, Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els, Ian Poulter and Geoff Ogilvy were also sent packing.
There was, too, some old magic from none other than 61-year-old Tom Watson, who had the 15th hole-in-one of his career en route to making the cut. And, as if to prove that ageism doesn’t exist in this championship, 20-year-old amateur Tom Lewis, although falling back from the lofty perch he held alongside Bjorn at the start of the day, also made it through to the final two rounds.
With just seven shots covering all of those who survived into the weekend, this championship remains a wide open and potentially intriguing affair. Literally anyone of them can win it, although the forecast of poor weather for the weekend – with wind and rain set to hit this corner of England – could well require fortitude as much as shot-making when the going gets tough.
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Clarke’s move to the top of the leaderboard – a position he last held in this championship at Troon in 1997 – came after a second successive 68 for 136, which included a remarkable eagle putt from over 100 feet on the seventh. Three holes earlier, Clarke had run up a double-bogey six on the fourth. It was that kind of roller-coaster day for the 42-year-old Ulsterman, seeking to emulate the major winning feats of McIlroy and McDowell who had used him as an inspiration in their formative years on tour.
What would it mean for Clarke to win the Claret Jug? “It would mean an awful lot, but this is only after two rounds. There’s an awful long way to go yet . . . the tournament is still wide open for an awful lot of players,” contended Clarke, with some justification and more than a little knowledge of past experiences. The most difficult journey is the one ahead, with Clarke and Glover only having to glance over their shoulders to be aware that a posse of pursuers have them in their sights.
The presence of McIlroy in the chasing pack confirms his ability to peak in majors. Without a competitive appearance on tour since lifting the US Open trophy outside Washington DC a month ago, the 22-year-old from Holywood, Co Down, produced sufficiently good shots in a round of 69 for level par 140 that left him in tied-19th after 36 holes. More importantly, perhaps, he also showed the ability to grind when it was required.
“I’m happy with my position and within striking distance of the leaders,” said McIlroy. “Everything is working well, it’s just a matter of keeping it tight and not hitting too many loose shots. There’s only seven shots separating the field. It’s very open.”
McIlroy, who made an important par save on the 18th in yesterday’s second round, doesn’t envisage changing his mindset going in pursuit of the lead. “I can’t go out and be defensive, especially now. But four shots in 36 holes on this golf course in these conditions is nothing. It really isn’t. I’m happy with my position and just need to keep doing the same things I’ve been doing.”
Clarke has never managed to win a Major title. Can he do it? “Darren is a fantastic ball striker. Hes a great links player, and hes the type of player that can still win golf tournaments,” said McDowell.
Clarke knows that he must finish the job himself; and that the quality of the field and the tough examination on this links of all links with its quirkiness on its lumpy, bumpy fairways and undulating greens will ensure there will be no place for sentimentality.
As his young prodigy, McIlroy, professed: “Darren’s doing a bit better than me at the moment but I’m planning on changing that.”
It should be interesting. Very interesting.
