by Jeff Skinner
They say the wind never really came up this afternoon at the Open Championship but it’s hard to tell from the leaderboard.
The breeze at Hoylake was less than normal but world number one Adam Scott was the only afternoon starter to put together a significant round. His four under 68 has him tied for third with five other players, all who had the advantage of the morning start.
Rory McIlroy’s 66 survived the weak attempt by the afternoon flight and he leads by one over Matteo Manassero. Brooks Koepka, The Brothers Molinari, Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia are the players tied with Scott at -4.
A slew of players sit three off the lead including Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.
Scott was the only player to give us any real excitement in the afternoon out of the two premier groupings.
The marquee grouping of Phil Mickelson (+2), Bubba Watson (+4) and Ernie Els (+7) were a combined 13 over par, hardly entertaining to watch.
The group got off to a tough start when Ernie hit a spectator off the first tee and had to deal with the sight of the poor lad being tended to with a bleeding jaw injury. He looked shaken as he three putted from three feet including a missed backhanded one footer. He took a triple bogey seven and was never on track.
Bubba was flummoxed by the severe bunkers at Hoylake and lost his focus on numerous occasions resulting in him missing short putts also.
Phil the Thrill was only thrilling when he needed to recover from one of his wayward shots. He only hit half the fairways but was able to hit 13 of 18 greens. And even though he insisted afterwards he played and putted well he still missed two very short, very makeable putts that could have certainly put him in better position.
He saved his biggest thrill for the final hole when he pulled his second shot into the par five out of bounds. After walking up to his ball he was astounded to see it had gone through the boundary and the double fence. Clearly upset he faced the lonely walk back to his previous spot to hit his fourth shot. Luckily a rules official gave Phil a lift and saved him some time and embarrassment.
Phil then sliced it left of the green into the knee deep fescue. But then Phil the Thrill turned it on with a towering wedge to about 20 feet. Then Phil, being Phil sunk the unlikely putt to salvage a bogey six. It wasn’t his best hole but it may have given him some juice going into tomorrow.
The other afternoon marquee group included Scott whose masterful 68 was the best of the afternoon, Justin Rose and Jason Dufner.
Dufner played his round hardly showing one once of emotion and tee to green he was a master. He hit 12 of the 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens. He carded three birdies to a lone bogey at the last and if his putter was working he would have threatened McIlroy.
Justin Rose may be running on fumes this week. After an exciting win at The Scottish Open it is difficult to keep the pedal to the metal. But still an even round of 72 is nothing to discount. He’ll be out early tomorrow and if the weather moves in as predicted he’ll have the advantage there.
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